Norris believes that McLaren can compete with Red Bull in 2024

McLaren has come back from nowhere. The British team started the 2023 season in the worst possible way. The garage that finished 5th in the constructors’ championship had not made the right strategic choices in terms of development. The MCL60 was therefore very slow with significant drag and little balance in the corners. Until the summer break, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had not sent any positive messages to the engineers.

However, starting from the Austrian Grand Prix, the dynamics shifted from one extreme to the other. Positive results followed one another, following spectacular improvements. For several races, McLaren even asserted itself as the second force on the grid, with notably a victory for the young Australian in the Sprint race in Qatar.

An encouraging development for 2024

This power balance notably shifted with the development challenges encountered by Ferrari and Aston Martin. Mercedes, on the other hand, managed to still improve and reach the level of the Oranges. However, the “battle” of development was won by McLaren. The progress observed by Norris encourages the driver to be optimistic for the 2024 season.

« I just told Max that since we implemented this upgrade in Austria, I’m the second best-performing driver on the grid,” he declared after the race in Brazil. « I believe we potentially have the second best-performing team. Of course, we have made huge progress and I think what we have achieved this year is still a very good thing.

Despite his enthusiasm and his desire to perform well next season, the Brit remains pragmatic regarding his potential ability to compete with Max Verstappen.

« We’re talking about one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time, behind the wheel of one of the most dominant cars, explains Lando Norris. « The fact that we’re going from where we were in Bahrain to getting closer and talking about fighting against a Red Bull is a very promising sign for us. We know that we still have a lot to achieve next year, so I’m excited. It’s pointless to think about it before next year, but I’ll be optimistic and I believe we can make it as a team.

A convincing year overall

Andrea Stella arrived for the 2023 season as the new team principal. McLaren finished 5th in 2022, behind their direct competitor, Alpine. The team was therefore undergoing a major restructuring. After the Brazil Grand Prix, the 21st race of the season, Andrea Stella expressed his satisfaction with the progress made throughout the year.

« Where you’re at with next year’s car partially depends on where you’re at this year, as it’s the starting point for everyone,” describes the McLaren director. « But the development gradient you have for six or seven months is much more significant. You have such a long period that roughly corresponds to the work you’re doing on next year’s car. The work we’re currently doing in terms of aerodynamic and mechanical development is much more important than the starting point.

Currently, McLaren holds the 4th place in the constructors’ standings, with a 21-point lead over Aston Martin.