Norris just clinched the 2025 title, yet his defense is already turning into a nightmare.
Six races remain and he’s sixth with 201 points; finishing sixth or lower would make him the first champion since Damon Hill in 1997 to end the next season outside the top five.
Hill captured the 1996 crown with Williams, then dropped to Arrows and slipped to 12th in 1997. Since then, no reigning champion has finished worse than fifth.
Some argue Nico Rosberg’s 2016 retirement counts as a failed defense, but that’s debatable.
Norris trails Charles Leclerc by 14 points in fifth and Max Verstappen by 20 in fourth. With no sprint races left, a comeback hinges on McLaren’s ability to upgrade the car before it’s too late. In my view, McLaren must overhaul the car now.
Lando Norris representing McLaren.
“The car isn’t quick enough and is hard to drive. We’re far from where we need to be,” Norris said after his fourth‑place finish in Singapore.
“You have to look at the whole package,” team principal Andrea Stella explained. “On circuits with long straights we struggle; the package simply isn’t strong there.”
“Tracks like Baku, Monza or Las Vegas will be tough. The car excels in low‑speed, tight corners where heavy braking is required – it’s decent but not the best. It has strengths and weaknesses, and performance will swing throughout the season,” Stella added.
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– The Team