P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris is the bookies favourite for the 2025 F1 drivers’ title but having that label comes with a particular disadvantage, as raised by Christian Horner.
Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, believes it is advantageous that Max Verstappen is not the favorite to defend his F1 drivers’ title this year. With McLaren’s Lando Norris emerging as the bookies’ frontrunner after a strong finish in 2024 and McLaren’s success in the constructors’ championship, the Woking-based team is also a favorite for the upcoming season. Red Bull faces uncertainty as they struggled in the latter part of the previous season, resulting in a drop to third place in the standings despite Verstappen’s individual success. The pressure of being favorites in previous seasons is acknowledged by Horner, who is unsure about this season’s frontrunner but expects clarity after the initial races. Horner expressed contentment with Norris being the perceived favorite, emphasizing that true form evaluation will occur after the initial flyaway races due to various factors like new surfaces in China and the lengthy season ahead.
