Lando Norris insists McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri is not his only title rival
Norris reignited his stuttering bid to land a first championship by winning from pole position in Monaco to reduce the deficit to Piastri to just three points.
Piastri has four victories to Norris' two, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen the only driver outside of McLaren to win a grand prix this season.
Verstappen is now 25 points behind Piastri – with fourth-placed Mercedes driver George Russell 62 points adrift – but speaking ahead of the ninth round of the season in Spain, Norris said: 'Mathematically I feel like probably the whole grid can win the championship at the minute so if you think it is just out of me and Oscar then you are a bit silly.
'There are plenty of opportunities. I expect Ferrari will get better as the season goes on.
'And Max can still win. Come on! We are racing Max every weekend. He's been on the podium several times, he has won races, he beat us in Imola fair and square because he was quicker.
'I don't know what possibly makes you think that it's only between the McLaren drivers.'
Norris, 25, will regain the lead of the championship he lost after last month's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix if he follows up his win in Monte Carlo with another triumph on Sunday.
'It's a great feeling to be in the lead of the championship, and to have more points than everyone, but again it is not something I look at and it is not something that changes anything I do day to day,' he continued.
'It doesn't change how hard I work or what I try to achieve. I will try to win this weekend and I'll try and win in Montreal, and I'll try and win in Austria. And it's got nothing to do with what position I am (in the championship).'
Lando Norris addresses the media ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix (Bradley Collyer/PA)
A new technical directive will be introduced at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya to clamp down on flexible front wings which some believe has contributed towards McLaren's dramatic rise.
The British team won the constructors' championship last season and have claimed six out of the eight wins so far in 2025.
However, when asked if he was concerned McLaren will be affected by the rule change, Norris said: 'No, not at all. There are tweaks here and there, but nothing that will change how we have to do it.'
Williams' Carlos Sainz continued: 'There has been a lot of talk regarding this technical directive but I don't think it will affect teams as much as people think. I wouldn't expect more than a one-tenth swing up and down the field.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Callum Simpson credits late sister for inspiring comeback Ivan Zucco KO after being dropped EIGHT SECONDS into fight
'do it for her' 'do it for her' Callum Simpson credits late sister for inspiring comeback Ivan Zucco KO after being dropped EIGHT SECONDS into fight Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CALLUM SIMPSON called on inspiration from his late sister Lily Rae to come from behind and stop Ivan Zucco to win the European title. Simpson suffered the devastating news that his 19-year-old sister had tragically died last year in a quad bike accident on holiday in Greece. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Callum Simpson beat Ivan Zucco Credit: Getty 5 He scored three late knockdowns Credit: Getty But the Barnsley boxing hero - who headlined at the Oakwell Football Ground - continues to fight in Lily Rae's honour. And she would have watched on with pride as her big brother came back to stop Zucco in round ten after three knockdowns. Simpson, crowned the European super-middleweight champion, said: "Not once did I give up, those last few rounds I'll be honest I started thinking about my little sister Lily. "I'll be honest, I just thought I had to push for her and for everybody. "This time last year, Lily was sat up here cheering me on and she was there with me tonight when it got tough, when it got hard. "From round eight, I thought, 'I've got to dig deep, I've got to keep pushing, I've gotta do it for her. She was with me tonight." Simpson filled Barnsley's 23,000-seater - but he got off to a horror start after being floored by only the second punch Zucco threw. Simpson made it to his feet with little trouble but opted to try and make Zucco pay - and buzzed the travelling Italian himself before the bell sounded. The opener was a frenzy of wild shots with both men hurt and the following two rounds was much of the same. And again Simpson was down in round three after a huge left hand as the chaos continued. 'We never know' - Tyson Fury refuses to rule out comeback as Anthony Joshua nears new 'amazing' fight deal The former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight had to pick himself up and dust himself off to turn the fight around. And that is exactly what he did with constant pressure in the second half of the fight turning the tide. By round ten, Simpson was on the front foot and trapped Zucco in the corner - letting off a devastating triple uppercut. It dropped Zucco - who got to his feet - but again he was pinned in the corner and floored with two of the same shots. The underdog European once again made it to his feet but Simpson, smelling blood, jumped on Zucco and forced him to the floor with a barrage of shots. This time there was no coming back for Zucco - as Simpson turned the fight on its head with a comeback victory for the ages. 5 Smith was down twice himself Credit: Getty 5 He came back and credited the win to his late sister Credit: PA
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Fabio Wardley stuns fans with come from behind KO on wet and wild Ipswich return
Fabio Wardley shocked the world with a come from behind knockout to defeat Justis Huni on a rainy night at Portman Road. The British sensation was due to face Jarrell Miller, but the American was forced to pull out due to injury. In the sport of boxing, the show must go on - with Wardley eager to put on a performance in front of his beloved Ipswich faithful. While there was not much to cheer about at Portman Road this year, Wardley lit up the town of Ipswich after putting on a career defining performance. The 30-year-old has called for the winner of Daniel Dubois' rematch with Oleksandr Usyk and it is fair to say that he has put the division on notice as he edges closer to a world title shot. Huni - on paper - looked set to be the toughest test of Wardley's career. After establishing himself as a top prospect in his native Australia, tonight's contest marked his first fight on the UK shores. However, when the lights were at its brightest, the Ipswich pugilist and former recruitment worker shone in a big way. As he marched to the centre of the ring, Wardley was greeted and roared on by his home faithful. The 30-year-old looked locked in from the very first bell. In the opening exchanges, the Brit was clearly looking for the right hand early in a bid to unsettle the man from Down Under. But back came the Aussie - who landed big left to the body followed by a huge right hand. In a close opening three minutes, a sharp right hand from Wardley may have given the Ipswich native the round. Lovely left hook from the young Aussie got proceedings underway in the second. Despite all the boos, it was evident Huni was unfazed by all the negative noise. The 26-year-old's speed was on full force in the second, but on the pressure, Wardley fired back with a few sharp shots downstairs. In close quarters, Wardley's power shots over the top seemed to land. But Huni showed that brave, warrior, spirit to remain calm and continue on the front foot. The Aussie silenced the Portman Road crowd early in the third after finding a home with the right hand, but the Brit showed real adversity, boxing sharply on the ropes before his hungry rival fired back with a big combination. Towards the back end, the Ipswich native had the 26-year-old under the cosh after a few right hands landed clean. Huni came to silence the crowd, and it was his speed and sharpness that did just that in the early rounds. The heavyweight brawlers traded leather in close proximity in the fourth. Wardley had his success, but the Aussie's will to press forward caught the hometown favourite off-guard. Despite absorbing a huge right hand over the top, Huni took it clean on and fired back with his own combination. Light on his feet, it was clear Huni was enjoying himself in the squared-circle. The Aussie was evidently licking his lips after seeing his British rival breathing heavily in the centre of the ring. Deep in the fifth, Wardley detonated a sharp left hook, but was clearly struggling with the pace. Huni began to run away with it in the sixth. The speed, the jab, the footwork was on full display. The surging star snapped Wardley's head back with a stinging jab before landing two right hands on the button along with another right hand over the top. Wardley was looking out of ideas and was in desperate need of support from his home fans. A double right hand forced Wardley back in the seventh as Huni continued to stalk his prey. Once again, the right hand was on full force from the Aussie - who was eager to draw quite the attention from the big boys in boxing's heaviest division. In the co-main event Pierce O'Leary defeated Liam Dillon to claim the European super-lightweight champion. From start to finish, the Irishman was dominant and rarely looked in any real danger of being stopped. Elsewhere on the main card, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Lewis Richardson scored an impressive victory on his professional debut, while Mike Perez beat Steven Ward thanks to a vicious stoppage in the ninth round. MORE TO FOLLOW...
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Noel Gallagher's ‘excellent condition' 1990s super saloon up for sale for eye-watering seven-figure price
The motor was owned by Gallagher despite the fact he couldn't drive it ROLL WITH IT Noel Gallagher's 'excellent condition' 1990s super saloon up for sale for eye-watering seven-figure price Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BEEFY super saloon that once belonged to Noel Gallagher has recently hit the market - for a supersonic sum of £1.2million. A gorgeous Bentley Turbo R was listed on Auto Trader, having once been the pride of joy of the Don't Look Back in Anger singer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Despite never passing his driving test, Noel Gallagher's former Bentley Turbo R, complete with Britpop flair, is now up for grabs Credit: Getty 3 Gallagher's luxurious super saloon boasts a powerful 6.8-litre V8 engine and can be yours for a staggering £1.2million Credit: Auto Trader 3 Once owned by the Oasis frontman, this stylish Bentley boasts cream leather interiors, wood trims and the iconic 'OASI6 2' number plate Credit: Getty The four-door saloon, which was first registered in 1997, was owned by Gallagher despite the fact he couldn't drive it. The Turbo R - with the 'R" standing for "roadholding" - boasts a 6.8-litre V8 engine and is good for 0-60mph under seven seconds, as well as a top speed of 143mph. Not only built for speed, the Bentley boasts all the trimmings you'd expect from a luxury set of wheels of its time - featuring a cream leather interior, complemented by a wood trim. Described as being in both "excellent condition" and "surprisingly reliable", the Turbo R has clocked some 100,000 miles in its 28-year life. The snazzy motor also has the number plate 'OASI6 2', in reference to the Britpop band, which is set to reunite to play a run of gigs this year in the UK and Ireland. This includes shows at Manchester's Heaton Park, London's Wembley Stadium, and Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium, throughout July, August and September. The reunion made history, with more than 10million fans trying to get their hands on the British shows alone. Every performance, including those in the US, South America and Australia, sold out within minutes of going on sale. Famously, the Manchester-born musician has never passed his driving test - but seemingly hasn't stopped him owning or, indeed, driving cars. In 2023, he was handed six penalty points and ordered to pay a court £1,000 for failing to tell police who was driving his Range Rover - which was clocked speeding at 41mph on a 30mph stretch of the A40 in Edgware Road, West London. Noel Gallagher looks stony-faced as he makes lonely Tube journey to Oasis rehearsals – but Liam's entrance is chaotic Speaking about the Bentley's sale, Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader, said: 'Cars listed by music legends don't come around very often, and Noel Gallagher's Bentley Turbo R is certainly one for the Auto Trader history books." Auto Trader's Catherine King recently spoke to Sun Motors with advice on the best second-hand convertibles drivers can pick up at a pinch in time for the summer sun. Naturally, their picks included the evergreen Mazda MX-5 - dubbed the poster child for convertible cars.
