Norris: “If we had started the season the way we finished it, we would be P2.”
Lando Norris firmly believes that McLaren is on the right track for the 2024 Formula 1 season, and has much more to improve upon, in addition to their major progress in 2023.
McLaren failed to meet its winter development goals and had a poor start to the campaign, with neither of their drivers scoring any points in the first two races. But thanks to a three-stage car upgrade introduced gradually from the Austrian Grand Prix, the team has become the second fastest team behind the reigning constructor champions, Red Bull.
These improvements allowed McLaren to surpass Aston Martin, a first achievement, and to rank fourth in the constructor standings. Lando Norris believes that McLaren still has a lot of room for improvement. Speaking after finishing fifth in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he stated, “We need to be able to catch up to Mercedes, to catch up to Ferrari in terms of pace…”
« We have been behind them for two years, they haven’t really evolved and we have taken a huge step forward, and there are many other things we know we can improve on. It’s a good moment for us ».
« There are still a few puzzle pieces left to put together, but we have found the key pieces. We know which direction to go, so I am really proud of the whole team. If we were in Bahrain now and I was looking towards the future, I would have already dreaded the season. So to come away with seven podiums and all the great moments we experienced was definitely not expected. »
The 2024 season will be the first time that McLaren’s new internal wind tunnel will have an impact on the design of the cars. The British team has also secured important signings, such as Rob Marshall, former engineer and designer from Red Bull, but also David Sanchez, car designer and performance manager, coming from Ferrari.
The Briton is particularly excited about the next 12 months in Woking. He continued: “I am very excited. If we had just started the season as we were in the middle of 2023 with the improvements, we would be P2 among the constructors and P2 among the drivers.”
« I know it doesn’t always work like that. But we’re on the right track, that’s what I’m trying to say. We have some very important new members. So maybe we won’t immediately have everything they can bring us in the car, but there are some things that we already know now. »
« We have already learned over the past four, five, six months, the progress we have made, we have learned a lot. I am excited, because we are finally on the right track and we know which direction to push. I just want to start the season off well. If we manage to start well in Bahrain, I will be even more excited. »
