McLaren’s Lando Norris is viewing Max Verstappen and Red Bull as “genuine challengers” during the 2025 championship run-in, off the back of the Dutchman’s impressive pole-to-victory drives in Italy and Azerbaijan.

After so much talk of a two-horse race between McLaren team mates Norris and Oscar Piastri, the reigning four-time World Champion has slashed the gap to the pair in the Drivers’ Championship over the last couple of Grand Prix weekends.

As it stands, Verstappen sits 44 points behind second-placed Norris, and 69 points behind championship leader Piastri, with seven rounds – including this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix – and three Sprint events still to go.

Asked if he feels Verstappen’s wins were more down to track specifics, given the low-downforce demands of Monza and Baku, or whether he and Red Bull can now be seen as “genuinely a challenger” everywhere, Norris replied: “Genuinely a challenger.

“I think if you go back to the beginning of the season, they were challenging at the first six, seven races for race wins, challenging us in the Drivers’ [Championship]. We brought some upgrades and improved a little bit, a couple of weeks ago they brought some upgrades and it seems like that’s kind of put them back on the same level as us.

“I think we’re still expecting and we’re still coming into every race with the ambition, the goal of winning, wanting to dominate as a team and continue the form that we’ve had all season. But nevertheless, it’s a track where Mercedes, Ferrari… Red Bull certainly over the last few weeks have been closer, so we expect battles, especially with him [Verstappen], here.”

At Monza, Norris suggested that it would make his life “easier” if more drivers could get between himself and Piastri at upcoming races, as he looks to chip away at his own 25-point deficit to the Australian.

Pushed on whether he has now got “more than he bargained for” with Verstappen and Red Bull’s mini-resurgence, Norris said: “I mean, it would be easier if I was always finishing first and him [Piastri] third, but that’s not going to be the case.

“It’s difficult to know. Certainly, in Baku we had the pace to win, we had the car to win, and we didn’t. I don’t think we necessarily had maybe the pace to be on pole, but I think we had a chance to fight, and a chance to fight Max.

“At Monza they [Verstappen and Red Bull] were just too quick for us. If there are some races coming up where they are just too fast, which is very possible… He [Verstappen] qualified one-tenth behind me here last year; even when we were already dominant, he was only one-tenth off, so I expect them to be quick for many other races this season.

“We’re going to go to Las Vegas, another low-downforce track where we don’t expect to be as great as we have been in other places. So, we know there’s opportunity for them, but we’re just focusing on ourselves. I’ll try and maximise every result I can, whether that’s on Saturday or Sunday.”

As for his overall mindset arriving at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, 2024 Singapore winner Norris added: “I’m confident. Last year was a very good one here. We were very strong, I had a good race. I’ve always enjoyed it since my first year in 2019.

“At the minute it looks like a little bit worse weather than what we’ve had over the last few years, but I’m excited. It’s one of my favourite tracks of the season, so I’m happy to get going.”

Alongside Norris and Piastri’s title ambitions, McLaren have a second chance to secure back-to-back Teams’ Championship crowns this weekend, with the Woking-based squad needing just 13 points to put the situation to bed.