Despite Carrying the Superior Form From Home to Hungary, Lando Norris Snaps McLaren Back to Reality for Missing Finer Details

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ByPulkit Jai

Jul 22, 2023 | 7:45 AM EDT

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Despite a stellar performance at the British Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris brings his team back down to earth as they prepare for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The young driver’s exceptional form has been a lighthouse for the team, but Norris cautions that there are still finer details to be ironed out.

Norris has been turning heads with his recent performances. His impressive run at the British Grand Prix, where he secured a podium finish, proved his mettle and the team’s upward trajectory. Norris showcased his racing prowess by holding off Lewis Hamilton to secure second place. His post-race comments revealed his excitement and gratitude toward his team. However, he also humorously pointed out that the decision to fit his car with hard tires was a beginner’s mistake, hinting at the team’s need to pay attention to the finer details.

So, here’s the scoop on the Hungarian Grand Prix practice sessions. In the first one, Norris managed to secure the 4th spot, and then he really stepped it up in the second practice, landing in 2nd place. But, according to Sky Sports, Norris isn’t all that thrilled with the MCL60’s upgrade package. Lando said after Friday’s running, “I think it was a positive day. It was tricky to get what we wanted to learn. The long run and short run pace was good, but there are still small things we can do to extract more pace.” He says it hasn’t really improved the car’s handling, and he’s had to tweak his driving style to compensate.

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Norris isn’t shy about sharing his feelings on the car’s handling. He’s not a fan of how it favors straight-line speed and forces him to “V” the corners, which is a far cry from his preferred “U” cornering style. And while the car’s straight-line braking is pretty solid, Norris doesn’t think it’s all that quick in wet conditions, especially when it comes to corners.

🗣️ | Lando Norris: “I think it was a positive day. It was tricky to get what we wanted to learn. The long run and short run pace was good, but there are still small things we can do to extract more pace.”#F1 #Formula1 #McLaren #HungarianGP 🇭🇺
— McLaren F1 News 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇦🇺 (@TheMcLarenZone) July 21, 2023

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He also mentioned that the car’s driving style is pretty rigid, which means he’s had to adapt his driving to fit the car, rather than the other way around. And let’s just say, he’s not exactly loving it.

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As the McLaren team prepares for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris signals that there’s still room for growth.

Lando Norris’ Concerns About the Hungarian GP

Norris anticipates a challenging weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Despite McLaren‘s impressive performance at Silverstone, Norris expresses doubt about replicating the success due to the contrasting nature of the Hungaroring’s slow-speed corners. Known as “Monaco without the buildings,” this 2.72-mile circuit is tight and twisty, making overtaking challenging but spectacular.

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The Hungaroring, with its technical layout, often gets compared to Monaco, and it’s not exactly one of the speediest tracks in F1. It’s a track that demands precision, with a few key spots for overtaking and corners where the condition of your tires can make or break your race. Norris admits that McLaren has had its fair share of struggles with slow-speed corners, but he’s not losing hope just yet. He reckons that the upcoming race will give a more accurate picture of where McLaren stands. After all, the previous tracks might have made things look a bit rosier than they actually are over the course of a whole season.

As McLaren prepares for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris’ concerns serve as a reality check for the team. Despite their recent successes, there are still areas for improvement and Sunday will serve as a test of the team’s ability to address these issues.

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