"UNBEATABLE?" LANDO NORRIS OPENS UP ABOUT MAX VERSTAPPEN AND THE MISTAKES THAT COST MCLAREN
Lando Norris is the 2025 F1 World Champion! Explore the final standings, McLaren’s dominance, and the 2-point gap to Max Verstappen.
In 2025, Lando Norris silenced his critics by outperforming Oscar Piastri and holding off Max Verstappen to grab the world championship.
A great second half of the season allowed the British driver to overtake his McLaren teammate and snag the title by just two points over Verstappen.
Norris himself isn't ready to say he's the best in Formula 1, even after winning the championship in 2025.
He said, “I don’t like comparing myself to others.
“I just try my best each weekend. You can decide who is better or who has a worse car, but is still doing well—it’s up to you.”
Norris had a top-notch McLaren MCL39, but that advantage lessened as the year went on.
Starting in Azerbaijan, Verstappen and Red Bull became big threats, and Piastri led the title race for a good part of the year.
In the end, Norris found a way to get the most out of his car consistently.
This helped him catch Piastri, take the points lead from the Australian, and minimise the damage from Verstappen when he was at his best.
Norris admitted, “I think I drove better than some others at times.
“I drove at a level that I don’t think others can reach.
“But I’ve also made mistakes, maybe more than others sometimes.
“Could Max do things better than I sometimes? Yes. Do I think he’s unbeatable? No. But you never really know, do you?
McLaren seemed in control of both championships when F1 came back from its summer break in late August.
But at the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull found something that made their RB21 much faster, causing issues for McLaren.
McLaren clinched the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore, but Norris didn’t secure his title until Abu Dhabi.
It was a tight race, partly because McLaren let its drivers compete against each other, which cost them points.
Luckily for them, Red Bull struggled to reach its full potential before Monza.
This all led to a showdown, with Norris doing just enough to win.
Lando Norris vs. Oscar Piastri: Final head-to-head standings
Norris said, “They also had problems with their car in the middle of the season.
“They had an amazing second half and took advantage of us fighting for the title.
“Max really used that to his advantage and drove like a four-time champion.
“I’m happy I got to race against him and try to prove myself.
“Write whatever you want about him, me, or anyone else…
“I’m not trying to prove I’m better than anyone.
“I don’t care if every story asks, 'Is he better than him?' or 'Is Oscar better?' It doesn’t matter.
“I did what I needed to do to win the championship. That’s it, and I made my people happy.
“That’s all that matters to me.”
This shows a change in Norris, who used to be seen as too emotional to become a champion.
Now, he's emerged as the best driver, no matter what others think.
He added, “I’m proud that I won it my way, by being myself.
“I didn’t try to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other champions. I’m happy; I won it Lando’s way, as Andrea [Stella] says. That makes me happy.”
The confidence he needed was there in the end. The Norris who finished the 2025 season as champion was a different person from the one who started the year winning in Australia.
He was more thoughtful, sure of himself, and comfortable. He was the best version of himself, and that's what mattered most.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
