Helmut Marko adamant zero-pole F1 driver is just as good as Lando Norris, ‘if not faster’ on his day

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Lando Norris was widely considered the favourite for the 2025 Formula 1 title even before pre-season testing. But he strengthened that status in Bahrain.

Over a single lap, Norris didn’t show what he was capable of. In fact, his best lap of a 1:30.882 was the 17th-slowest among the 20 drivers.

But it was his long-run pace that painted an ominous picture. Norris would have the won Bahrain Grand Prix by 12 seconds based on the day two race runs.

Indeed, one could argue that Norris showed his comfort with the MCL39 by deciding not to attempt a qualifying simulation. He knows the pace will be there at the Australian Grand Prix.

Norris won his first four F1 races last year, two of them by huge margins in the Netherlands and Singapore. On the evidence of testing, a few more processional victories could be on the cards this spring.

Red Bull internally believe McLaren could be four-tenths ahead before Melbourne. That would be a monumental early advantage in the title fight, even though rivals are bound to rally in a 24-race season.

Helmut Marko warns Lando Norris as F1 title rematch with Max Verstappen looms

Speaking to RTL/sport.de, Red Bull executive Helmut Marko suggested Norris’ Bahrain advantage will be a ‘phenomenon’ restricted to the Bahrain test. From Australia onwards, he’ll have to worry about Oscar Piastri.

Marko believes Piastri is ‘equally as strong’ as Norris, and ‘faster’ on his day. As an F1 sophomore, he took two victories and out-raced his teammate seven times.

Red Bull’s advantage, with regard to the drivers’ championship at least, is that Max Verstappen is ‘clearly number one’. He won’t necessarily have to worry about the inexperienced Liam Lawson taking points off him.

Piastri needs to improve his qualifying this year if he’s to overhaul Norris. He still hasn’t scored a pole position, while his partner racked up eight last term.

“If you take the test in Bahrain, then it was Lando Norris who coped much better than Oscar Piastri,” Marko said. “But I think that was just a phenomenon in Bahrain. I rate Piastri as equally strong and I hope that this will also take away the two points and we will benefit from it.

“Max is clearly number one for us, and I don’t think Piastri will voluntarily declare himself number two. And we saw that last season: on certain tracks he was equal to, if not faster than, Lando.

“But the advantage is that McLaren currently has a car again that – if you take Bahrain as an example – copes very well with every type of tyre and every temperature.”

How Christian Horner privately reacted to Lando Norris giving up a win for Oscar Piastri

Piastri has a ‘firm shot’ at winning the Australian Grand Prix, according to Karun Chandhok. The race hasn’t seen a home victor since joining the calendar in 1985.

McLaren insiders believe Piastri could be F1’s best driver within a few years, one journalist says. It’s worth remembering that he’s only started 46 Grands Prix so far.

Zak Brown’s squad are well-placed to retain their constructors’ title this year, but privately, neither of their drivers are racing for that objective. They know they have a chance to win the biggest prize.

Last year, both were forced to compromise to help their teammates. Christian Horner says Verstappen would have never obeyed team orders like Norris did at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he gave up a win to Piastri.