Christian Horner expects McLaren ‘comeback’ in 2025 after Lando Norris defeat
Christian Horner believed that McLaren will score even better performances in the 2025 season after Lando Norris' championship loss.
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Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)
McLaren’s extreme turnaround in performance in the 2024 season left Red Bull in the dust as the former won the constructors’ championship with ease. The Woking based teams’ racer’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris maximized points over the race weekend against Red Bull’s struggling pace. Despite Norris’ championship defeat, Christian Horner is expecting McLaren’s ‘comeback’ in 2025.
Lando Norris came close to Max Verstappen in the championship standings mid-way through the 2024 season. However, Verstappen’s superior performances enabled him to hold onto the lead and Norris’ minor mistakes caused his imminent loss in the championship. Hence, Christian Horner noted that McLaren lost a lot of opportunities on the ‘driver’s side’.
I think, when you reflect on it, they missed a lot of opportunities on the driver’s side [last] year. They had two competitive drivers, which was strong for them in the Constructors’.
Christian Horner told PlanetF1.com.
Horner raised surety over Norris looking back at his performances and wanting to improve in the coming season. The 51-year-old highlighted that despite having the fastest car on the grid, scoring just three or four wins was a disappointing situation for the Briton. However, the Red Bull boss believed that the 25-year-old would want to score a comeback in the coming season.
But I’m sure Lando will perhaps look back and think three or four wins from this campaign, with the car that he had at many races, is probably less than they could have. But I’m sure they’ll come back. They’ll learn from that, for sure.
Christian Horner added.
Christian Horner revealed Red Bull’s ‘strength’ despite loss to McLaren
Christian Horner is still confident in Red Bull’s chances against McLaren in the coming season. Horner noted that the team being an ‘out and out race team’ was their strength. The 51-year-old recalled that this was the philosophy that he always instilled in them. The Briton recounted that since day one, he focused on maximizing performances and continued to win races whenever possible.
I think that’s always been the strength of this team – that we are an out-and-out race team. That’s always been a part of the philosophy that I’ve instilled since the very beginning. When I came in 2005, ‘Let’s focus on maximizing our chances and opportunities and punch above our weight where we can’.It has always been our ethos. We went through some hardened years from 2010 to ’13, and then we went through difficult years from ’14 onwards, but we were still winning races when the occasion allowed.
Christian Horner noted
The 2025 season will be extremely interesting as multiple teams might have a shot at championship contention. Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will probably remain close contenders for the drivers’ championship. Norris seems ready to go up against the best of the best after taking in massive learnings from the 2024 season.
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Aditya Pandya
(1491 Articles Published)