Johnny Herbert believes that Lando Norris must “stand up” to Max Verstappen with greater consistency if he is to have any chance of challenging the reigning four-time world champion for the Formula 1 title in 2025. Despite showing flashes of brilliance and benefiting from McLaren’s car performance advantage for much of the 2024 season, Norris was unable to mount a sustained challenge to Verstappen’s dominance. This, Herbert says, is an area the young Briton must address in the coming season.
Throughout 2024, Norris exhibited solid performances, particularly over the summer and autumn months, where he managed to chip away at Verstappen’s commanding points lead. However, despite these brief successes, Norris ultimately fell short of seizing the opportunities that could have brought him closer to the Dutchman. The McLaren driver struggled to keep up the momentum, and Verstappen, with his unmatched consistency and ability to perform under pressure, eventually sealed the title with his sensational victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, followed by another triumph in Las Vegas—securing the championship with two races to spare.
Herbert, who has a wealth of experience from his own F1 career, noted that Norris needs to find more aggression and resolve when up against Verstappen, especially in critical moments on track. He pointed to several flashpoints during the 2024 season, such as in Austria, Austin, and Mexico City, where Norris showed promise but was unable to capitalize on Verstappen’s occasional missteps. In each of these instances, Herbert believes that Norris could have been more assertive in his approach to Verstappen and his team’s strategies.
“He has been very open that maybe he hasn’t brought his A-game this year,” Herbert said during an interview with Coin Poker. “From what I am hearing, he has accepted that this is what he now has to do, to change.”
Herbert’s comments echo the sentiments of other key figures in the F1 world, such as Martin Brundle, who also believes that Norris must raise his game in the fight against Verstappen. The 25-year-old Briton has shown immense potential, but Herbert argues that to truly challenge Verstappen’s supremacy, Norris must adopt a more combative and confident mentality in future battles.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Herbert predicts that the upcoming year will be one of the most intense in recent memory. With the final year of the current regulations approaching, all four of F1’s top teams—Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari—are expected to be competitive. Seven of the top eight drivers in 2024 claimed at least one victory, underlining the potential for a tightly contested championship in the year ahead.
“Next year is going to be massively interesting to see who comes out on top,” Herbert added. “It might well be scrappy next year, but that’s what you want in Formula 1—some sharp elbows, allied to common sense. Max loads pressure on everyone.”
Herbert’s words underline the challenge that lies ahead for Norris. The McLaren driver is undoubtedly one of the most talented and promising drivers on the grid, but to truly compete with Verstappen’s unparalleled dominance, he will need to be at his best, not just in terms of speed, but also in terms of mental fortitude and aggression. If Norris can find that extra edge, he could emerge as one of Verstappen’s fiercest rivals in the 2025 title race.
