Lando Norris doesn’t think McLaren can win anytime soon, but expects them to score a F1 victory if everything falls in place.
Having improved handsomely in 2023, McLaren has carried forward its form into 2024 season as well. They have got Ferrari challenge as well, who have already scored a win, but the British F1 outfit has been on the heels of the Top 2 teams.
Ferrari seemingly has an edge but McLaren is thereabouts with team boss Andrea Stella optimistic about a win this year. His saying has been backed by Norris, who secured a sprint race pole in Chinese GP after triumphing in mixed conditions.
He notes that everything has to fall in place for McLaren to win and they have to improve in the areas which will propel them to a win. “Not anytime soon, that’s for sure,” started Norris with a joke. “I think we can. Right place, right time, if we improve the car how we need to. Honestly, there weren’t too many frustrations with Suzuka.
“I think everything went pretty much 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 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 Japan went. So I don’t think there’s too many frustrations. But we know the issues, we know what we have to improve. And if we can improve them. I think Andrea is 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.
“And you know, 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 for years, but last many years. But if we can, then I’m confident we can have some good races,” summed up Norris.
Here’s report on F1 Chinese GP sprint qualifying
Here’s F1 bosses on David Sanchez-like situation
Here’s Lando Norris explaining his qualifying issues
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