Lando Norris’s candid reflections, in an interview with The Race, on McLaren’s performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix underline a harsh reality: Red Bull’s superiority at certain tracks remains formidable.

Despite McLaren’s overall solid season, Norris acknowledged that at Baku, the Red Bull car operated on another level, especially through key sectors where even following Yuki Tsunoda proved difficult.

The weekend’s tricky conditions (wet track surfaces and tricky qualifying order) exacerbated McLaren’s difficulties, leading to a frustrating seventh-place finish for Norris and a first-lap crash for championship leader Oscar Piastri.

The pace disadvantage was clear, confirming that Red Bull’s mid-season lull had been overstated and the team’s recent upgrades greatly enhanced competitiveness. 

McLaren’s Struggles Contrast with Strong Season Start

While McLaren has shown strong pace throughout 2025, Baku’s unique challenges exposed cracks in their campaign. Norris highlighted the car’s “knife edge” handling and inconsistent grip as key issues preventing consistent top performance.

He admitted that although their pace in free practice sessions remained promising, translating that into race pace and qualifying on such a demanding circuit proved elusive. Piastri’s weekend was particularly trying. Qualifying crashes followed by a clumsy jump start penalty culminated in a race-ending incident that remains a setback in his championship lead defense.

Piastri took responsibility for his errors, emphasizing focus on recovery ahead while acknowledging the costly nature of mistakes in a tight championship battle. 

Verstappen’s Threat Intensifies Amid McLaren Challenges

Max Verstappen’s aggressive pace and back-to-back wins have reinjected urgency into the title fight. His dominant Baku victory cut the points gap significantly, now trailing Piastri by 69 points and Norris by 44, with seven races remaining.

Verstappen himself remains pragmatic, emphasizing the need for near perfection in execution and a little fortune from rivals to mount a title challenge. Meanwhile, Piastri recognizes Verstappen as a looming threat but focuses on his own performance recovery rather than fixating on competitors.

McLaren’s principal Andrea Stella also acknowledged Verstappen’s resurgence, reinforcing the notion that the title battle remains fiercely contested and unpredictable as the season races toward its conclusion. 

As Red Bull demonstrates renewed potency and McLaren grapples with setbacks, the closing rounds promise a gripping championship duel defined by resilience, strategy, and flawless execution.