Lando Norris believes McLaren have the potential to fight for race wins, but that they will not be doing so “any time soon”.
McLaren currently sit third in the constructors’ championship after the first four rounds of the 2024 season, 59 points behind second-placed Ferrari but with more than double the tally of Mercedes and Aston Martin behind.Norris is the only driver outside Red Bull and Ferrari to score a podium finish so far this season. However, after McLaren team principal Andrea Stella recently suggested his team should be able to target winning races at their current rate of development, Norris does not believe they are close to being able to fight for victories like Ferrari have.
“Not any time soon, that’s for sure,” Norris said in today’s FIA press conference. “[But] I think we can, right place, right time, if we improve the car how we need to.”
McLaren finished fifth and eighth in the last race in Japan with Norris and Oscar Piastri, respectively. Despite qualifying third on the grid and losing two places in the race, Norris says he was satisfied with the team’s performance.
“Honestly, there weren’t too many frustrations with Suzuka,” he said. “I think everything went pretty much as as expected.
“I don’t think we did a perfect job and I think we probably should have finished one place higher up, potentially, but I don’t think it was far off. We’ve been in the same place all season, we’ve been behind Red Bull, we’ve been behind Ferrari and we’ve been a bit of a step ahead of the other two teams come the race and that’s exactly how last weekend went. So I don’t think there was too many frustrations.
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“We know the issues, we know what we have to improve. If we can improve them, I think Andrea’s right – I think we can win races this year and we can be competitive with these other two teams ahead of us. But that’s an ‘if’.
“We have to work hard to improve the car in some of these certain areas which have been a big challenge for us over the last many years – not just a few years, but the last many years. But if we can, then I’m confident we can have some good races.”
Norris expects McLaren’s performance in China this weekend will be “probably not as high as Suzuka… but still in a good position.”
“I think we’ve been happy with how the season started,” he continued. “I think we’re in a good qualifying battle with Aston Martin, Mercedes – it’s very close. And even last weekend ahead of Ferrari.
“But I think the order is still clear. I think in the racing, we’ve done a good job. Not as good as Red Bull and Ferrari, but ahead of Aston Martin and Mercedes. So I think we’re in a good spot. This wasn’t a great circuit for us in 2019, but many things have changed since then so I’m still optimistic we can have a good weekend.”
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notagrumpyfan
18th April 2024, 10:16
Norris might be driving the third or fourth fastest car at the moment, but he beats most of his competitors on consistency.
Out of the top four teams I’d rate Verstappen as the most consistent and Norris as second. Sainz would join them if only considering this season.
Thus any race where Verstappen is not winning, I’d include Norris in the potential alternative winners list.
That can be never, later, or even ‘any time soon’.
Nick T.
18th April 2024, 13:21
I don’t know. He seems to choke a lot in quali. He’s been consistent in getting the most out of his car in races though.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
18th April 2024, 18:40
his teammate has consistently looked for one lap pace more than Lando looking for overall race pace. 80% Lando looks like the better car on race day. McLaren are just stuck with a boat anchor for a power unit. If I was McLaren team boss I would have parted the red sea to put a Ferrari power unit in the back of my cars.
Nick T.
18th April 2024, 21:44
I don’t see any chance Piastri lives up to the hype. He’s clearly not in Lando’s league. And, yes, it’s ironic that the Mercedes PU is now a liability rather than a strength.
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
18th April 2024, 23:18
Piastri is “living up to the hype” admirably. He is certainly in Lando’s league. What criteria are you using? Please respond.
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
18th April 2024, 23:11
I read this as “McLaren double podium behind Redbull”, mark my words.