Norris ready for battle in 2025: "I made sure I was better prepared than last year in all areas"

A few days before the resumption with the winter tests in Bahrain (February 26-28), the vice-world champion confided that he had spent a lot of time training this winter in order to be ready to face the 24 Grands Prix and play for the title in 2025.

Published 09/02/2025 à 14:43

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Norris ready for battle in 2025: 'I made sure I was better prepared than last year in all areas'

The return of the Formula 1 approaching and the drivers' holidays are coming to an end. After a two-month break, the 20 players on the grid are back at the factory or on the circuits, a few days before the big official presentation of the 2025 season, organized on February 18 in London, and the winter tests in Bahrain (February 26-28).

This is particularly the case for pilots McLaren and Lando Norris who, after sporting holidays in the Alps, Finland and Dubai, is back in Woking to prepare for the launch of the MCL39. "After the winter break I feel good. It's been a good winter, probably one of the busiest I've had in terms of training and preparation, the Briton confided on the official McLaren website, on his physical preparation ahead of this 2025 campaign. I feel like it was used well, and more effectively than last year, so I'm happy about that. In fact, I'm even more excited to get back on the road."

Norris already behind the wheel

Lando Norris has already had the chance to get behind the wheel of an F1 car this year, as McLaren was present – as Ferrari – in Barcelona for private Pirelli tests. With Oscar piastri, the vice-world champion was able to return to the MCL38 with which they won the Constructors' title on the Catalan circuit, in order to get back into shape before the pre-season tests in Bahrain. "I'm back in the car and I feel good. Obviously, this is not our car for this year, so it's not as exciting as when I jump in the car [in 2025], but it's still nice to get back in the car and have that feeling of being behind the wheel again, emphasizes the Englishman. But that has nothing to do with getting into this season's car and going to the first race!"

After a trying 2024 season, where he was in the running for the title and the main Max Verstappen In the championship, Lando Norris was able to take advantage of this winter break to recharge his batteries, get away from Formula 1 and, above all, prepare himself as best as possible – both mentally and physically – for the fight that the 2025 campaign promises to be. The Briton will be one of the main favourites for the title this season… but he still has to manage to reach a milestone psychologically and the McLaren MCL39 has to be at least as efficient as its predecessor.

“I like not to think about Formula 1 sometimes. To go home and see my friends, to be alone and do other things with my life, rather than driving. It’s necessary and I’m sure everyone would say the same thing, concedes Lando Norris. I've done a lot of different things, in a lot of different countries, to make sure I'm better prepared than last year in all areas. The next step is training, going back to the factory to spend a lot of time in the simulator and getting back to work."

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