After two constructor titles for McLaren – and a first world title for driver Lando Norris – a current third place behind Mercedes and Ferrari in the championship is somewhat disappointing according to the team itself. Nevertheless, the reigning world champion still hopes that his team can turn the tide, as it has already done earlier in 2023: ‘We still want to go all out for the championship’.
Read more Max Verstappen, an evening at the theater: About racing, cooking, padel and even the Mona Lisa…
With only one podium in three Grands Prix, world champion McLaren did not have the dream start to the season. The British team even suffered a rare double retirement in Shanghai, when both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could not appear on the starting grid of the Chinese GP due to battery problems.
“It has not been the start to the season we hoped for and we have had a few difficult weekends so far,” Norris reflects via the McLaren website on the first three Grands Prix. “We want to take pole positions, win races and lead both championships, but that is not the case right now.”
Read more No Nordschleife for Russell: ‘Hundred laps driven in the sim, but I focus on F1’
‘Still going for the championship’
Nevertheless, the reigning world champion remains combative and has not given up on his dream of a second title. “Although we did not start the season as we wanted, we still want to go all out for the championship,” Norris says determinedly. “This is not a matter of giving up and focusing on next year.”
It is also not the first time that McLaren has been able to turn the tide after a disappointing start to the season. In 2023, both drivers were still at the back during the first Grands Prix before the British team became a serious title contender through a series of upgrades. “There are plenty of examples where we were not quite where we wanted to be at the start of the year, but eventually ended up in a much stronger position towards the end,” the Brit concludes.
Read more Russell hopes Verstappen stays in F1: ‘But the sport is bigger than anyone’
Read everything about GP Miami here
