Lando Norris in Ferrari verdict as Lewis Hamilton gets Australian GP chance | F1 | Sport
Lando Norris believes that Ferrari were sandbagging during pre-season testing and that the Scuderia will ‘surprise’ people with their pace at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. The Italian constructor attempted the boldest winter transformation of any of F1’s 10 teams, changing the front suspension in the hope that their new approach would unlock lap time later in the year.
After pre-season testing, hopes for a Ferrari victory in Melbourne were relatively low, with McLaren the clear favourites, although according to Norris, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be a significant threat this weekend.
“I know how much fuel and stuff Ferrari had for a lot of the testing,” he revealed on Thursday in the Australian GP paddock. “You’d be surprised at how quick they’re going to be this weekend.”
If Ferrari do have the pace required to fight McLaren from the outset, then Hamilton could be a force to be reckoned with in 2025. The legendary Brit feels reinvigorated after his move from Mercedes and has been laser-focused on adapting to life with his new team during the off-season.
“I am under no assumptions it will be easy,” he said in Melbourne. “I don’t feel the pressure. The outside pressure is non-existent for me. The pressure is from within and what I want to achieve. I am not here to prove anything to anybody. I have done it time and time again.
“I know what it takes to do a good job, and that’s what I want to deliver, for myself and my family, for this team that I really believe deserve success. They are so driven, and maybe they have not had as much success as they would like and deserve. Just want to work towards and contribute to doing it.”
Despite Norris’ assessment, most drivers have McLaren down as the team to beat in 2025. The Woking-based squad pipped Ferrari to the Constructors’ Championship title in Abu Dhabi and have developed well over the winter.
They also have a formidable driver line-up in Norris and Oscar Piastri. The latter penned a new long-term contract with McLaren ahead of his home race – and the season opener – in Melbourne this weekend.
