„McLaren has had the best car for 95 per cent of the races,” claims Norris

Assessing the season ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lando Norris admitted that the papaya team had „the best car for 95 per cent of the races.”

Having dominated proceedings so far in 2025, McLaren could clinch the teams’ title at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. If the Woking-based outfit secures the constructors’ title this weend, they could repeat Red Bull's record from 2023 of becoming champions with six races of the season still to go.

There are only two teams that can still deny McLaren of becoming teams’ champion this year.

Having heavily outscored Ferrari last time out at Baku, Mercedes moved to second place in the teams’ standings. The Brackley-based outfit must outscore McLaren by at least 31 points to stay in mathematical contention, while the Maranello-based squad need to outscore them by 35 points.

Asked to reveal what has stood out for him and what has been the magic sauce for McLaren, Lando Norris added: „I mean, yeah, the driver's! Car's mediocre! But, I mean, without making a joke of it, I think you got the two things. You obviously need the best car. I think we've had that for 95% of the races.

„I think there's been a few here and there. Like, even Monza is the most recent one where I don't think we were quick enough. Baku, I would say we probably should have been and were fast enough.

„We just didn't do a very good job. Monza, we weren't quick enough. So, you know, there's been a couple races where we've not had the dessert—like, the perfect weekends. But as a constructor, I think that's the important thing. We've got two good drivers.

Norris continued: „And I think there are plenty of other teams with two great drivers, but I kind of hate saying it, but not ones who have delivered every weekend as often as what Oscar and myself have done.

„But it's also easier for us to deliver because we're ahead of the field a lot of the time. So in some ways, we have an easier job than some others.

„But as a constructor, you need two drivers who deliver every weekend, who finish most races. And that's what we've been able to do.
“Maybe not the last couple, but until that point, we've been the best performing duo as drivers. And we've clearly had the best car and been the best team,” added Norris.