Norris and Piastri Think They Can Catch Ferrari

Despite a rough start to the 2023 Formula 1 season, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri remain optimistic about not only overtaking Aston Martin in the standings but also challenging the third-placed Ferrari in the constructors’ championship, as the season approaches its final chapters.

McLaren's journey through the 2023 season has been nothing short of a roller coaster. The team experienced a dismal commencement, with the cars failing to garner any points in the initial races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. This disappointing performance triggered significant technical overhauls orchestrated by the newly instated team principal, Andrea Stella. The revamp was a catalyst for McLaren's revival, and the team soon found its stride.

The turnaround was marked by a substantial mid-season upgrade that thrust McLaren into serious contention for the podium. The subsequent influx of points saw them climbing through the ranks, drastically narrowing the gap with their competitors. Remarkably, over the past eight races, McLaren has managed to trim a 100-point deficit to Aston Martin down to a mere 11 points, while also making significant inroads into Ferrari’s 79-point lead. This resurgence was highlighted by the team's recent success, achieving double podium finishes with Norris and Piastri in both Japan and Qatar.

When queried about the possibility of snatching third place from Ferrari, given the current dynamics, Norris responded with confidence: “It’s doable, I think so. A couple of races ago it was 70-something [points] to Aston. I think we’re doing a good job, not just in terms of pace, but we had a 1.8-second pit stop, which is pretty impressive from the guys. They’ve been working extremely hard, so to reward the whole team consistently is only more motivating and a bigger boost every weekend. They like the taste of success. It’s the first time they’re getting it consistently and I think that only makes them want it more and more and more every weekend that we’re doing, so the guys are doing a great job. I think [as drivers] we’re both doing a decent job, too, so we’ll keep it up.”

However, Norris wisely tempered expectations by highlighting the variability inherent in the sport, noting how track differences significantly impact performance. He referenced Ferrari's strong show just a few races prior, where they clinched the pole position and nearly took the top spot in Singapore. He stated, “We know that Mercedes are very quick, probably almost as quick as us [in the Qatar race], just they keep making mistakes. I’m sure if they have a clean weekend they will maybe make our life a bit more tricky and therefore I’m not as confident in saying it. But it was only three weekends ago that Ferrari were close to… [They] were on pole and almost winning races and nothing has really changed, it’s just a different track. We’re looking better, they’re looking a bit worse. I think we’re definitely not overconfident. We’re confident, I think we need to be, but we know there’s still going to be some races where we’re not going to be quite as strong.”

Piastri, the Australian rookie sensation, affirmed Norris's outlook, underscoring the potential points bonanza offered by the upcoming Sprint races in the United States and Brazil. He remarked, “I think Suzuka and here [in Qatar] have probably been tracks we’ve been looking at for quite a while in terms of what’s going to favour us. I think there’s going to be some races that are going to be more difficult than here and probably will suit other teams a bit better. I think 79 points in what, five races and a couple of Sprints? It’s a big challenge, but yeah, we’ll give it a go. I think obviously the gap to Aston now is very achievable, but yeah, hopefully we can do it.”

With the season’s end looming, the atmosphere within the McLaren team is a blend of cautious optimism and resolute determination. The upcoming races will be pivotal in determining if McLaren's commendable mid-season recovery can culminate in a triumph over their seasoned rivals. While the challenge is steep, the spirit within the McLaren camp is undeniably high, with eyes firmly set on closing the gap with Ferrari in an audacious bid for third place in the constructors' championship.