Lando Norris and the McLaren team gained valuable insights during pre-season testing. However, the team based in Woking may encounter difficulties in keeping up with Max Verstappen and Red Bull this year.
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO).
and McLaren experienced a remarkable turnaround in the latter part of the 2023 season. The team from Woking recovered from a disastrous start to the year and achieved multiple podium finishes. Expectations were high for the team heading into the 2024 F1 season. Now, Norris has made a significant admission regarding his team’s chances against the reigning world champion.
The 24-year-old stated that McLaren had made progress with the MCL38 after the conclusion of pre-season testing. However, understanding the team’s true position in the hierarchy was challenging for Lando Norris. Nevertheless, the British driver believed that Woking was on the right track during the winter in preparation for their 2024 challenger.
Nevertheless, Lando Norris acknowledged that the British team still lags far behind Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Verstappen delivered impressive laps in Bahrain. The three-time world champion even stated that the RB-20 was behaving exactly as he desired. Norris emphasized that the team from Woking will struggle to even match Ferrari in the early stages of the season, despite having learned valuable lessons for the season opener next weekend.
Despite the challenges faced by Norris during pre-season testing, the 24-year-old expressed confidence that McLaren would overcome these setbacks. The British driver firmly believed that it was not the end of the world for the team based in Woking. However, Lando Norris admitted that ideally, the team would have preferred a flawless performance in Bahrain.
Nonetheless, Lando Norris and will aim to compete at the front of the grid this season. The team from Woking now has a cutting-edge wind tunnel in operation, which allows for more efficient and effective car development. This could have a significant impact on McLaren’s position in the hierarchy this season.
Undoubtedly, Lando Norris may not challenge Max Verstappen for race victories, at least not initially in the season. Rivals are worried about Verstappen’s pace, including , who confidently predicted that the Dutchman would comfortably win the 2024 championship. However, Norris and McLaren will hope to take advantage of in-season upgrades to potentially match the performance of the team from Milton Keynes.