Lando Norris, a British driver for the McLaren team, competed in the Chinese Grand Prix. The team had expected to face tough competition from their rivals. McLaren’s Team Principal, Andrea Stella, had expressed the need for “damage limitation” to manage expectations. Under Stella’s leadership, McLaren has taken a transparent approach to their journey towards success. They acknowledged that their latest car, the MCL38, had its weaknesses. The race in China was significant as it marked the return of ground effect cars in Formula 1. The Shanghai International Circuit posed challenges for McLaren due to its unique track layout. Despite this, Norris seized an opportunity during the Sprint Qualifying and secured an unexpected pole position. However, a mistake at Turn 1 caused him to lose positions and miss out on a podium finish. Norris acknowledged that his sixth-place finish in dry conditions better reflected McLaren’s potential. Nonetheless, he exceeded previous expectations by qualifying in fourth place, ahead of the Ferrari cars, alongside his teammate Oscar Piastri.
In spite of the drivers from the Maranello-based team being positioned lower in the standings at seventh and eighth place, Norris emphasized that the race would present a different challenge. However, Norris maintained his position at the beginning and then executed a successful maneuver on Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, securing a stable third place in the early stages. Even when Leclerc overtook both George Russell’s Mercedes and Alonso after a slow start, Norris was able to manage the gap between himself and the Ferrari driver. This allowed McLaren to avoid being caught off guard by a clever strategic move from Ferrari, as seen in Japan, with Norris being instructed to extend his stint to counter that threat. It must have been disappointing for Norris to see the gap he had created disappear when a Virtual Safety Car turned into a full safety car, but once again he had the upper hand over Leclerc. The timing of the interruption worked in McLaren’s favor, as it allowed them to bring Norris into the pits, resulting in him emerging in second place with Sergio Perez from Red Bull in fourth. With Perez closely trailing Leclerc and the turbulence affecting the Ferrari’s tires, Perez was unable to pose a threat to Norris once he climbed to third. As a result, Norris crossed the finish line in second place for the eighth time in his Formula 1 career, describing the outcome as a “victory” amidst Max Verstappen’s dominant performance. Norris expressed his surprise at splitting the two Red Bulls and surpassing both Ferraris, while Leclerc was also amazed by McLaren’s speed. Leclerc was not the only one in awe. Norris attributed McLaren’s impressive turnaround to the car coming to life in the cooler temperatures experienced throughout the weekend. “The conditions cooled down, the wind calmed down, and both of these factors, I believe, worked in our favor to a greater extent,” Norris analyzed. “That’s why, if you were to ask me yesterday what we expected for today, it definitely wasn’t anywhere near the top three or even the top five. It was a pleasant surprise, and the car felt much better, although not fast enough to match the Red Bulls.”
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McLaren’s 2024 package benefited from improved track conditions. Norris suggested that the new asphalt may have concealed the flaws of the MCL38 car.
When asked about the change in performance that favored McLaren, Norris couldn’t provide a clear answer. He simply stated that they were faster than expected and didn’t struggle as much as anticipated in certain areas of the track. The team is still learning about the car and the unique characteristics of the circuit. Norris acknowledged that the unusual tarmac may have worked in their favor, whereas the old tarmac could have posed more difficulties.
Norris has taken a similar approach to Mercedes during their dominant period, downplaying expectations to avoid disappointment. However, he denied that McLaren’s cautious outlook was a deliberate strategy. He emphasized that their previous races, where they were behind Red Bull and Ferrari, justified their realistic perspective. Norris explained that they express their honest opinions about their performance and don’t make optimistic claims without reason.
Despite not having high expectations, Norris had a successful race. He had a good start, overtook the Aston Martin, and controlled the race from the beginning. This was a significant improvement from the previous day’s sprint race.
In the meantime, Stella remained undeterred from his pessimistic position heading into the weekend, revealing his own surprise that it turned out to be McLaren’s most impressive showing.
However, Stella was wise to recognize that McLaren’s collective confusion at its standout performance has provided valuable lessons that it must learn from in future races.
“To be fair, we came here with the belief that this would be a race to minimize damage, but it has actually been the most fiercely competitive event,” confessed the former Ferrari race engineer, 53.
“Securing pole position for the Sprint… I believe the Sprint could have resulted in a second-place finish if not for the issue in corner one.
“Yesterday, we were competitive in qualifying and once again had a strong race. So clearly, there are adjustments we need to make in our understanding.
“But Formula 1 often surprises you because it is influenced by numerous factors. Nevertheless, it is a good result, a pleasant surprise.”
McLaren’s impressive performance on a track that was expected to expose the weaknesses of their car is a positive sign as they prepare to introduce upgrades at the next race in Miami.
Similar to Shanghai, the Miami International Autodrome, which surrounds the Hard Rock Stadium, features a long straight and numerous slow-speed sections.
Based on the most recent evidence, McLaren should head to the United States for the first time this season without fearing that they cannot compete with Red Bull for a spot on the podium.