MELBOURNE, Australia — Lando Norris says it is “short-sighted” to believe McLaren has a clear advantage over its rivals to start the Formula One season, instead anticipating a four-team fight at the front.

Lando Norris has downplayed suggestions McLaren is the team to beat ahead of the new Formula 1 season, saying rivals including Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes looked "extremely strong" in testing.

McLaren has revealed that a desire to avoid potential distractions from rival Formula 1 teams showing interest in its drivers

In the weeks before the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, back in October of 2023, McLaren CEO Zak Brown looked me square in the eye and made a straightforward declaration about the team’s driver pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

After helping McLaren to a constructor's championship in 2024, Oscar Piastri was rewarded with a multi-year contract worth nearly $26 million per year, according to Racing News 365.