Norris Pessimistic About McLaren's Victory Hopes

Lando Norris, McLaren's dynamic Formula 1 driver, has voiced a sobering outlook on the team's prospects of clinching a win in the 2023 season.

Despite achieving a commendable fourth consecutive podium finish at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Norris feels that McLaren's prime opportunities for a race victory this year "have gone."

Norris showcased remarkable skill at the Austin circuit, overtaking Ferrari's Charles Leclerc early on to dominate the first half of the race. However, the relentless pace of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who secured his 15th win of the season, and a late surge by Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes, saw Norris finishing behind these seasoned champions. Yet, a twist in events arose as Hamilton faced disqualification due to excessive plank wear, bumping Norris up to second place. This marked his third runner-up finish in the last four races.

Reflecting on the race, Norris acknowledged the progress McLaren has made, describing Sunday as "still an amazing day for us." Nevertheless, he lamented missed opportunities, particularly at the Qatar Grand Prix, which he considered the team's strongest chance at a win. "Do I think our best chances have gone? I would say yes," Norris remarked candidly. He maintained a glimmer of hope but realistically downplayed the possibility of triumphing in the remaining races, citing a lack of circuits that play to McLaren's strengths.

Norris's apprehension stems from McLaren's notable difficulty in low-speed corners – a persistent Achilles heel affecting their performance. He specifically highlighted concerns about upcoming races in Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi. With a particularly disappointing outlook for the Brazilian Grand Prix, Norris explained, "If you looked at the GPS overlays of how bad we are in the slow speed [areas], I'm not looking forward to Brazil."

The struggle was evident at the Austin Grand Prix, with Norris visibly battling the car in Turn 11, a critical hairpin where he eventually lost his lead to Verstappen. Andrea Stella, McLaren's team principal, confirmed this weakness. He pointed out that challenges with braking and traction in low-speed corners, like those in Turn 11, have been a consistent hurdle and one that cannot be remedied within the current season.

"It has been addressed in development but there is no turnaround in this season to fix this," Stella conceded, indicating that any significant improvements in this area are slated for the 2024 car.

This realization marks a moment of reckoning for McLaren and Norris – a blend of pride in their achievements and a pragmatic acknowledgment of the challenges that lie ahead. As the 2023 season progresses, the team's focus might pivot more towards building resilience and refining their car for the next year, rather than chasing elusive victories in the remaining races. Norris's candid insights and Stella's technical overview paint a picture of a team fully aware of its limitations but unyielded in its pursuit of progress and perfection in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing.