Lando Norris leaves F1 legend ‘absolutely’ convinced as Max Verstappen question answered

Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris to win a fourth consecutive Formula 1 drivers’ title in 2025, but the McLaren man enters the new season as favourite over his Red Bull rival

A two-time title-winning McLaren hero is “absolutely” convinced that Lando Norris will follow in his footsteps.

Mika Hakkinen won back-to-back championships in 1998-99 and only Lewis Hamilton, in 2008, has done so since while representing the Woking-based squad. Norris, 25, finished as runner-up last year as Max Verstappen made it four titles in a row, 63 points behind the Dutchman.

But the Brit enters the new season as the favourite for glory this term. And Hakkinen, 56, believes Norris is now rounded enough to live up to the billing. “Absolutely, yes,” the Finn replied when asked that question.

“I experienced so many years of racing in F1 without success. Why I did not get the success, it was partly because of my development to become a good racing driver and also that the car was not good enough.

“You keep developing and pushing to become a good driver and that means you are taking risks and risks mean that you are putting yourself in positions to make mistakes. I think that Lando has reached all these elements in his career. He has been taking risks, he has been critical of himself, he has been pushing flat out.”

Norris was accused at times last year of being too meek when battling Verstappen, 27, on track. Some also felt the Brit was overly self-critical after making a mistake and questioned whether he has the mental strength to beat his Red Bull rival.

But Hakkinen is not one of those doubters and said: “When I have been studying and looking around, people say, ‘Is he ready, can he mentally take this kind of pressure?’ When you are not world champion and you are working towards that goal it requires a lot of mistakes. I believe Lando is ready, he is flat out ready to achieve his goal and he can become a world champion.”

While Norris fell short in his drivers’ title push last year, he helped his team to win the constructors’ championship for the first time since 1998. For that success, McLaren are nominated for team of the year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards, held in Madrid on April 21.

Also representing F1 is Verstappen, again a nominee in the world sportsman of the year category after his fourth consecutive championship crown. “Winning four times, that kind of achievement does not just happen without incredible psychological power inside of you and huge preparation all the way through your childhood,” said Hakkinen of the Dutchman’s achievements.

“You can be talented and a fantastic racing driver but becoming the level of being world champion requires more than that. It requires hard work with the team. Max has won the world championship four times. I won it twice and that was mega hard work.”