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In a recent discussion surrounding the state of Formula 1, McLaren’s Lando Norris voiced his strong disagreement with comments made by rival teams regarding his team’s performance. Describing these remarks as “nonsense,” “random,” and “crap,” Norris highlighted the shift in dynamics as McLaren emerges as the team to beat this season.
After breaking a lengthy 26-year drought for a constructors’ championship, McLaren continues to showcase its potential on the track, with Norris securing a victory in Australia followed by teammate Oscar Piastri triumphing at the Chinese Grand Prix. The team has generated considerable buzz, especially following its impressive pre-season testing, where it was seen as a frontrunner, leading to speculation that Norris and Piastri might become top contenders for the drivers’ title.
Mercedes driver George Russell recently commented that the McLaren car appears to have a larger performance advantage over its competitors than Red Bull did in previous seasons, suggesting that McLaren could dominate the upcoming races. This assertion was echoed by figures from Ferrari, including team principal Fred Vasseur and driver Charles Leclerc, who also discussed the gap between McLaren and other teams.
Norris, however, challenged these claims, stating, “I think the people that say that, like the ‘unbeatable’ stuff… it’s just nonsense. They just like to talk crap sometimes.” He urged the media to investigate the veracity of such statements rather than merely reproducing them. “It’s your job as the media to figure out these things… to get across the facts of what is true, and not just write nonsense that people like to say,” he asserted ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
As McLaren takes on the role of a frontrunner, the team is experiencing a noticeable shift in its competitive landscape. Norris reflects on McLaren’s journey, noting that just a year ago, Red Bull was significantly ahead, dominating the field with more competitive hardware. He emphasized that while McLaren has indeed made remarkable improvements, the context of the previous season’s performance should not be overlooked.
“The car Red Bull had this time last year was a lot better than what we have now, compared to our competitors,” Norris explained. “But… we all feel good as a team, knowing that we have a strong car.” He acknowledged the challenges of driving their current vehicle while maintaining confidence in its capabilities, describing it as “not always the easiest car to drive, but a very strong car and the strongest car on the grid.”
On the subject of the newly acquired target on McLaren’s back, Norris expressed that it is a rewarding change, albeit one that the team is still adapting to. Drawing comparisons to Mercedes’ past dominance, he noted, “I think we’ve got a bit of time before we get to those kinds of numbers. So for now, it’s still like a motivating thing. While we’re at the front, we know that they’re behind us, so it really pushes us.”
As the season progresses, Norris conveyed the team’s desire to not only maintain but increase their current advantage. “It’s a good thing for us and we know that people love to talk and just say random things and stuff that’s not true,” he remarked. He concluded with a call to the media to discern the truth behind the ongoing conversations surrounding McLaren’s performance.
Photos from Japanese GP – Thursday
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