Lando Norris Stake On George Russell’s “Mentality” Amid...read more

BREAKING:Lando Norris Stake On George Russell’s “Mentality” Amid…read more

McLaren’s Lando Norris has hit back at George Russell’s suggestion that the team should shift its focus to 2026 following their dominant start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. After McLaren locked out the front row at Albert Park with a commanding qualifying performance, Russell speculated that the team could afford to redirect development towards the next major regulation change. However, Norris firmly dismissed that notion, emphasizing the need to stay focused on the current campaign.

Russell’s Perspective: “McLaren Can Look Ahead”

Russell, who qualified behind both McLarens, pointed out that their early-season advantage could allow them to stop developing the MCL39 and focus entirely on their 2026 car. “They’re in such an advantage because they can stop development now and go fully on ’26, and it’s difficult to overcome that gap,” the Mercedes driver stated.

He drew comparisons to Red Bull’s dominance in previous seasons, noting that despite the competition catching up, teams rarely find six-tenths of a second in development over a season. “McLaren is in prime position for now and the future,” Russell concluded.

Norris Fires Back: “That’s Not the Mentality to Have”

Speaking in the post-race FIA press conference, Norris made it clear he disagreed with Russell’s viewpoint.

“I know George made some comments earlier this weekend that they can just turn our focus to 2026. If that’s their mentality, wonderful, but that’s not the mentality to have. Sorry, mate,” Norris said.

The McLaren driver pointed to last season as an example, when Red Bull’s early dominance was eroded by their rivals’ rapid development. “Max was three-tenths off yesterday,” Norris noted. “Last year, we were much further off and ended up with the best car by the end of the season. We were over half a second off at the beginning of last year behind Red Bull and ended up with the quickest car.”

Norris stressed that complacency in Formula 1 leads to failure. “If you relax in this position, you fail. In Formula 1, if you start thinking things are good and groovy, that’s when you get caught.”

McLaren’s Relentless Approach

McLaren’s early-season form has been remarkable, with their cars running over 15 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by Lap 34 in Melbourne. The MCL39 has shown impressive tyre management, a key factor in their advantage over Red Bull.

However, Norris insists that McLaren cannot afford to ease off. “We know we still have a lot of work to do on this year’s car,” he said. “We will have races where we struggle.”

Despite McLaren being labeled the early favourites, Norris remains cautious. “If we started the season in Bahrain, I don’t think we would have won, and you wouldn’t be asking me this question. Let’s allow a few more races to take place before making any obvious statements,” he added.

Team Effort and Driver Contribution

Norris also credited McLaren’s intra-team battle with Oscar Piastri as a key factor in their success. “Do I think me and Oscar pushing each other in qualifying yesterday allowed us to get one and a half, one tenth more than the two drivers here because their teammates aren’t as equipped or experienced? Yes,” he said.

Acknowledging McLaren’s hard work, Norris made it clear that their goal is to improve further. “It’s not just about the car. The team has done an amazing job, and I thank them for everything they’re doing. But we know we can make it better, and that’s our aim.”

With McLaren’s performance setting the tone early in the season, Norris’s defiant stance suggests the team has no intention of taking their foot off the gas anytime soon.