Rosberg warns Mercedes faces tough title run-in as McLaren's Norris surges after Dutch GP

Nico Rosberg has warned that Mercedes faces a difficult end to the 2025 Formula 1 season after Lando Norris’s commanding Dutch Grand Prix victory at Zandvoort underlined McLaren’s surge in raw pace. The 2016 world champion argued that the gap in performance between the two constructors should alarm the current championship leaders.

Norris secured his second win of the season at Zandvoort — following his Hungarian Grand Prix victory before the summer break — without pitting for fresh tyres during a virtual safety car period when several rivals did. He not only held his lead but extended it, a feat Rosberg described as remarkable.

“Lando’s pace on those hard tyres, he was seven or eight tenths a lap quicker than George in a similar situation,” Rosberg said, comparing Norris directly to Mercedes driver George Russell. “Lando was absolutely flying out there. It was unbelievable the speed there.”

Rosberg was unequivocal about what that performance means for the constructors’ fight. “Mercedes is going to be worried now by this pace from McLaren,” he said. “Because they’re the team to beat now, and they’ve been developing that car faster than anybody else also. This could be a really tough end to the season for Mercedes.”

Despite back-to-back wins, Norris still faces a steep climb in the drivers’ standings. The 26-year-old sits fourth with 159 points — 24 behind Lewis Hamilton in third and 83 adrift of championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The deficit has prompted widespread debate about whether a late-season title charge is realistic, but Norris himself is keeping his focus narrow.

“It sounds boring, but one race at a time,” he said after the race. “I know a lot of people say it now but it’s the truth of it. There’s no point thinking that far ahead. I need to concentrate now on having a nice little break before Monza.”

With McLaren’s development trajectory now drawing comparisons to the pace gains that defined title-winning campaigns in recent seasons, the pressure on Mercedes to respond before the Italian Grand Prix is clear.