Australian Grand Prix: Lando Norris ‘feels’ that McLaren are favourites
Norris flirted with Verstappen’s title battle last season but eventually fell into the game. The Red Bull drivers’ dominance in the first five games was too big to close.
The 25-year-old Brit said: “I learned a lot last year. Obviously, from a racing perspective, I’m not ready to give everything we need.
“It’s just because competing with Max is a unique situation and until you really get to that, you can experience it in any other way of life.
“If it were a fight with different drivers, I don’t know if this would be the same. It would definitely not be that difficult.
“It’s probably a fair assessment because I do think Max will be the hardest person to compete. He will always be the one who is willing to push the limits and push the boundaries like him. So I learned that aspect of Max.
“And I learned my position in this case, which is not right. I learned from these things. I think I’ve played in the last few games and I’ve improved in a lot of situations.”
Norris said he believes he has a strong fighting position throughout the season this year.
“I’m glad to have another crack and see what I can do and compete with any driver,” he said.
“I don’t think I’m going to play Max this year. I think it’s going to be Charles (le clerc), Lewis (Hamilton). It’s going to be Oscar (Piastri, Norris’ McLaren teammate).
“It will also be Red Bull drivers and Mercedes drivers. So, I look forward to all the battles. Of course, the more there are other battles, the more wars there are between others, the better for us, the better for us.”
Vestapon, who aims to win a fifth straight driver, said he is concerned about McLaren’s Pace Michael in the Test.
“I know we’re not the fastest yet,” said the 27-year-old Dutchman. “But it’s a long season and a lot of things may change very quickly.
“We’re very happy with what we did. Of course, it’s going to be a fun weekend and we expect to stand up on the frontline, regardless of what we’ll see is the pointed end.”
