McLaren concluded the 2023 F1 season as the second-best team, trailing behind Red Bull. They made significant progress after a mid-season upgrade, and it is expected that they will continue their momentum in 2024.
Despite a decent pre-season test, McLaren’s position in the pecking order raised some doubts. There were concerns about their pace and whether they had improved as much as Ferrari and Mercedes, or if they were intentionally holding back.
During a media session in Bahrain, Norris expressed uncertainty about McLaren’s chances this weekend. He acknowledged that it is challenging to determine McLaren’s position within the pecking order.
When asked about McLaren’s standing before the Bahrain race, Norris responded, “That’s a good question! It’s something everyone is wondering about. We have a rough idea, but we’re not entirely sure how we compare to other teams.”
He continued, “The top two teams are clear, and then there’s a group consisting of Mercedes, Aston Martin, and us. The pre-season test was much better than last year, and we’re in a stronger position now, which is the most important thing.”
Norris avoided giving a straightforward answer and instead chose to be vague when pressed for further explanation. He said, “It’s an honest response regarding our standing. Until we reach Friday and qualify, it’s difficult to predict where we’ll be compared to other teams. It seems quite close with several teams.”
He admitted, “There are high expectations for us as a team due to our significant progress last year. At certain races, we were the closest to Red Bull, but at others, we were far behind Mercedes and Ferrari, and even fighting with teams further back. Our performance has been inconsistent.”
Norris emphasized that Bahrain has historically been a challenging circuit for McLaren. He stated, “We’ve never had one of our strongest races in Bahrain, so it’s premature to judge and assume that we won’t perform well here. It’s not the end of the season for us.”
But Norris hinted that McLaren may not have made the desired progress over the winter. He stated that it would take a few races to accurately assess where everyone stands, rather than judging solely based on the performance in Bahrain. Norris acknowledged that while the car has become faster, there are still certain issues that have hindered their progress. These issues could particularly impact their performance in Bahrain due to the nature of the circuit.
Despite the challenges in Bahrain, Norris remains optimistic about McLaren’s prospects as the season unfolds. He expressed confidence in their ability to perform well at circuits where they were strong in the previous year, such as Suzuka. Norris believes that McLaren can still be one of the top cars. He acknowledged that Bahrain has historically not suited their car, which is why they may face difficulties there. However, Norris is confident that they can overcome these challenges in the future.
In 2023, Norris achieved seven podium finishes and scored 205 points, securing sixth place in the Drivers’ Championship. This success came after McLaren made improvements to their car.