Formula 1 resumed in Shanghai just where it stopped in Melbourne – McLaren has left their competitors questioning exactly how much ground they have lost in the title race.

The rainy race in Australia — despite being thrilling and exciting — ended up making it more difficult to predict the outcomes based on previous performances.

Ferrari Never had an opportunity to demonstrate whether it could bounce back after its weak qualifying session. Max Verstappen When he hauled Red Bull close to victory, he required the race's second safety car to return to contention.

Certain paddock sources informed Sport.Bangjo.Co.Id Shanghai that McLaren might have won by up to 30 seconds if the race in Melbourne had taken place under dry conditions.

If correct, this discrepancy would merely amplify the focus on the issue. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could vie for a two-horse championship.

Enter Mercedes driver George Russell Last weekend, he grabbed attention by stating that McLaren now possesses "a significant edge" and could "halt further development and concentrate entirely on 2026."

On Thursday, amidst clear skies and without smog in Shanghai, Russell reinforced his stance—this was despite Norris previously stating at the post-race event in Melbourne beside the Mercedes driver that “that kind of attitude isn’t right” because “once you think everything’s fine and dandy, that’s exactly when trouble can catch up with you.”

Lando Norris from McLaren, George Russell with Mercedes

Photo credit: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“I believe their car has the potential to win every race and should indeed win all races, but I don’t expect them to secure victory in each event this year,” Russell commented about the MCL39. This statement contrasts with his earlier assertion post-round one of the 2023 F1 season, where he declared that the RB19 was destined to triumph in every race for Red Bull.”

Let's see, I believe the lead they hold over everyone this year is larger than what Red Bull has ever achieved.

However, when Max was behind the wheel of that car [in 2023], he consistently performed well during each lap. He made it into Q3 or participated in qualifying sessions without fail; there wasn’t much doubt about his reliability. Hopefully, we can replicate our performance from the previous race weekend—because they deserved a 1-2 finish.

Considering that both Norris and Piastri went off track in Melbourne—and they also had issues during their initial attempts in Q3 the previous day—the underlying message could imply that Russell believes the McLaren drivers tend to make more errors compared to Verstappen when leading the race from the front. Keep in mind that Piastri failed to return to the podium after spinning following Norris through Turn 12’s gravel trap when the rain resumed last Sunday.

However, sources within Mercedes maintain that this is not a psychological strategy being used by Russell to unsettle Norris and Piastri.

Additionally, a more extreme notion circulating within the racing community suggests that Russell and Norris may have experienced a rift. However, during an exclusive interview with Sport.bangjo.co.id, when Norris was presented with his rival's remarks, his friendly reply indicated that everything was amicable between them.

Instead, Norris appeared astonished to hear Russell’s last statement, yet he didn’t reply with any hostility.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo credit: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

I'm not sure — George has been quite vocal recently," Norris stated. "They seem to believe the season is finished even before it begins. Last week, I mentioned that this mindset might be inappropriate. Honestly, it just appears somewhat peculiar.

They ought to concentrate more as a cohesive unit instead of engaging in so much discussion.

But it doesn't alter anything. Sure, thanks – it’s a compliment. We’re performing remarkably well. We’re outdoing them.

We take pride in that achievement, yet we remain committed to working even harder since, indeed, both Ferrari and Red Bull are outperforming them.

They can say whatever they like. I feel content when George voices these opinions because it suggests that they might be somewhat concerned.

Mercedes contends that Russell is merely acknowledging the new reality—that for 2025, Formula 1 might have substituted one leading car package with another.

However, what sets McLaren apart from Red Bull is what George Russell hinted at during their time in Melbourne.

With the introduction of the 2026 rule changes approaching, should the orange team’s competitors lose ground rapidly in the championship rankings, the orange team might redirect their developmental efforts toward complying with the new rules and allocate only essential resources to enhancing their 2025 vehicles.

Lando Norris from McLaren, Oscar Piastri also with McLaren

Photo credit: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

This would significantly bolster McLaren's position.

On the other hand, there is very limited data to support what McLaren’s competitors are worried about, as it has only been one race so far.

However, the fact that Verstappen—who typically excels under such conditions—lagged behind by almost 20 seconds within only 17 laps in Melbourne has drawn considerable notice. This equates to losing an average of 0.84 seconds per lap during the latter part of his initial stint using intermediate tires.

Now, McLaren comes into China feeling even more assured after their performance last year with what Norris described as "a not very good car" back in 2024.

The Shanghai circuit features significantly longer turns compared to Melbourne, and with dry conditions expected, it will put greater strain on the cars' aerodynamic setups—similar to what they'd encounter at Formula 1’s testing ground in Catalonia.

The layout of Shanghai has been redone for 2025 in an effort to remove the bumps that caused significant setup adjustments for teams during the previous year.

In spite of all the projections and distractions, F1 ought to have a clear understanding of McLaren’s true capabilities once they conclude their race and return home on Sunday.

Read Also: Verstappen: McLaren "strong all-round," Red Bull part of trailing group Norris believes that McLaren's 2025 car does not suit his driving style, but he is working on maximizing its potential.