“Free My Man Lando”: Papaya Army Dejected With McLaren’s Sinking Ship as Lando Norris Goes Out of Sorts in Frustration

Even the most upbeat and joyful characters on the grid can succumb to the pressures of Formula 1. The constant need to better oneself and the extreme competition brings out never seen before characteristics. This was the case with Lando Norris after day 3 of the pre-season testing in Bahrain. Racing hasn’t even begun yet, but the Brit is already frustrated with his car’s performance on the track. Moreover, the revelation of Norris’s frustration has the fans demanding “free my man Lando.”

Pre-season testing has been an eye-opener for the Woking-based outfit. McLaren was plagued with unreliability and speed throughout the previous season as well and finished fifth in the constructors standing behind Alpine. Heading into 2023, with the pre-season testing as proof, the team might’ve fallen further behind.

The Woking outfit completed the least number of laps in the entire three days of pre-testing. This was mainly due to durability issues, because of which the cars spent most of the time in the garage. Day 3 saw no improvements, as Norris completed only 37 laps. Because of this frustrating aspect, Norris showcased a never seen characteristic we came across through a clip on Twitter.

The clip is of journalist Will Buxton speaking to the media and revealing what he witnessed firsthand. He said, “I actually saw him leave the garage and walk to the little driver’s room on the side, and very unlike Lando he sort of punched the flimsy makeshift wall as he walked through.”

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This act of frustration has become a topic of discussion for the papaya army.

Fans showcase their anger towards McLaren after Will Buxton’s revelation about Lando Norris

We have hardly or never seen the Brit lose his cool. However, the state of the MCL60 is a concerning one, and Norris’s wall punch is only adding to the gravitas of the situation. However, unlike Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren wants Norris driving for the team and the Brit has recently signed a long-term deal.

This long-term deal also became a concern as fans think Norris is wasting his talents at McLaren. One fan even tweeted, “Free my man Lando. Lando free yourself.” Although it is easier said than done and Norris is a McLaren driver until his contract runs out.

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The fans, including Norris, are really concerned about the team’s state and are foreshadowing a bleak 2023 season. Will McLaren improve the car enough to give Norris and Co. a competitive enough car? Only the coming weeks will tell!