Rand Norris has rejected George Russell’s proposal that McLaren could focus on next year after he questioned the “mentality” of Mercedes drivers after a dominant start to the 2025 F1 season.
After McLaren locked out the front row at Albert Park over three tenths, Russell suggested that McLaren could turn his attention to next year’s challengers – when new technology regulations were introduced.
“They are in that advantage because they can now stop development and go fully to ’26. That gap is difficult to overcome,” Russell said after qualifying.
“Red Bull started its season before anyone else, but I don’t think people have surpassed them in terms of development.
“If you have a 60th advantage at the beginning of the year, no one finds a sixth of a year.
Norris narrowly won Sunday’s race in Melbourne ahead of Max Verstappen.
By lap 34, two McLarens ran more than 15 seconds ahead of Verstappen, highlighting their advantage at this stage of the season.
The MCL39 is extremely friendly with tires, and Verstappen appears to be struggling with disassembly of the tires of the time.
Norris: “That’s not mentality.”
Norris was asked about Russell’s comments at a post-race FIA press conference.
The current Formula One Championship leader dismissed the idea that Russell could focus on next year, citing an example of 2024 when Red Bull quickly reigned after a dominant start to the season.
“Max was three tenths yesterday,” Norris said. “Last year, we were far apart and by the end of the season it was the best car.
“George made a comment this weekend that he could focus on 2026.
“Relax in this position.
McLaren took part in their first race as a clear favourite after Norris was impressed on the second day of his run in Bahrain.
Norris was slightly faster than Mercedes and Ferrari in racing simulations to 0.6.
But despite this fact, Norris suspects that McLaren would have won if the season began in Bahrain.
“If we started the season in Bahrain, we wouldn’t believe we won and you wouldn’t allow me some more races before asking me this question,” he added. “But we are primarily because we have two drivers pushing each other.
“I think I was able to get a 1/1 over the two drivers here because me and Oscar pushed each other in qualifying yesterday and my teammates weren’t equipped or experienced.
“It’s not just cars.