Lando Norris dismisses claims of McLaren's clear advantage in the 2025 Formula 1 season, suggesting Ferrari will emerge as a strong competitor at the Australian Grand Prix.

Despite McLaren's impressive pre-season testing, particularly Norris's strong race run, he emphasizes that test conditions were perfect during his session, while teammate Oscar's slower performance the next day demonstrated how dramatically conditions can affect results.

"I'm quite surprised so many people are so short-sighted, making so many conclusions before the season starts," Norris states, noting that teams often play down their capabilities to maintain an underdog status.

Norris believes the top four teams remain on similar footing, with Ferrari potentially concealing their true pace during testing. "I know how much fuel Ferrari had during testing, and you'd be surprised at how quick they're going to be this weekend," he reveals.

Looking ahead to the season's competition, Norris anticipates battles with multiple drivers, not just Max Verstappen. He expects strong performances from Charles, Lewis, Oscar, and both Red Bull and Mercedes drivers, though acknowledges Lewis Hamilton may need time to adjust to his new team after his long tenure with Mercedes.

"I'm excited to have another crack at it," Norris concludes, maintaining focus on his own performance rather than pre-season predictions. "We want to be quick, we expect to be up there fighting, but definitely not by the margin everyone's saying."

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