Lando Norris has tempered expectations for McLaren’s performance at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, admitting that the team is “unlikely” to hold off a resurgent Red Bull led by Max Verstappen. Speaking ahead of the fourth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, Norris reflected on McLaren’s missed opportunity in Japan and the challenges posed by Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit.
McLaren entered the 2025 season as title favorites after a dominant 2024, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri securing victories in Australia and China, respectively. However, Verstappen’s commanding win in Japan last weekend narrowed Norris’s championship lead to just one point, signaling Red Bull’s intent to fight back. Despite McLaren’s one-two finish in Friday’s practice sessions in Bahrain, with Piastri edging out Norris, the British driver remained cautious about their prospects.
“Bahrain’s a different beast,” Norris said during a press conference. “The track has more low-speed corners, which play to Red Bull’s strengths and expose our weaknesses. We saw in Suzuka how quick they can be when they nail the setup. I’d love to keep them behind us, but it’s going to be tough.” He added that McLaren’s advantage in high-speed corners, evident in earlier races, may not translate to Sakhir’s layout.
Norris also acknowledged the sting of Japan, where he started on the front row but couldn’t challenge Verstappen due to a combination of qualifying errors and conservative strategy. “We had the faster car in Suzuka, but we didn’t execute,” he admitted. “Max and Red Bull deserved that one. We’re here to make amends, but it’s not going to be easy.”
McLaren’s concerns are compounded by Bahrain’s historical challenges for the team. The Woking-based outfit has never won at the Bahrain International Circuit since its debut on the F1 calendar in 2004. Last year’s race saw Norris and Piastri finish sixth and eighth, a respectable but unspectacular result. Piastri, however, struck a more optimistic tone, pointing to McLaren’s strong long-run pace during testing. “We’re in a better place than we were last year,” he said. “The heat will test tire degradation, and that’s where we’ve been strong. But we can’t afford to sit back.”
Red Bull’s Verstappen, meanwhile, downplayed his seventh-place result in Friday practice, suggesting rivals were running higher engine modes. “We’re still finding our rhythm, but the car feels good,” he said. “Bahrain’s been kind to us before, and we’re definitely not out of it.” Verstappen’s confidence is backed by Red Bull’s recent improvements, particularly in low-speed performance, which Norris flagged as a key concern.
The Bahrain Grand Prix marks the second leg of F1’s opening triple-header, with temperatures expected to soar above 30°C, adding another layer of complexity. McLaren’s tire management has been a strength, but Norris warned that even small mistakes could prove costly against a “ruthless” Verstappen. “He’s not going to give us any space,” Norris said, referencing their close battle at Suzuka’s pit exit. “We need to be perfect.”