Months After His Exit Doors Blocked, Lando Norris Makes a Trustworthy Statement for Zak Brown With McLaren’s Impending Recalibration

Aston Martin, after their gargantuan leap this year, seems to be the trendsetter for everyone. Earlier Mercedes revealed their Aston Martin-esque side pods and now McLaren has pulled a move similar to theirs with the restructuring and poaching of technical staff from the top teams. With all this restructuring at McLaren, Lando Norris instills his trust in Zak Brown, despite the CEO blocking Lando Norris’ exit doors just months back. What did Norris say?

McLaren had a dismal start to the 2023 season where the MCL60 was amongst the slowest cars on the grid. A missive drop after finishing 5th in the constructors last year. Speculations of Lando Norris moving to another team were being made as McLaren failed to deliver a competitive car. However, Zak Brown came out to put the rumors to bed, explaining how there are no release clauses in Lando Norris’ contract and he is free to leave if he wishes after the contract ends in 2025.

Zak Brown since then has announced a technical restructuring of the team. James Key, the former technical director, left the team and David Sanchez was poached from Ferrari who will be joining next season. Rob Marshall has now joined McLaren as ‘technical director of engineering and design’ after he decided to leave Red Bull. With all these changes and a new wind tunnel online, Lando Norris instills his trust in Zak Brown at what he’s going with and for the tram at the moment. 

According to the FIA’s drivers press conference, Lando Norris when asked whether he believes in what Zak Brown is creating at McLaren, said, “I would say a lot. Even more now than in the past. I guess I would never want to say that I have no belief, and I never have said it and probably won’t, but definitely since the last few changes, there have been a lot of good things coming from that, both in terms of mood, atmosphere, but at the same time, also performance and things to look forward to in the future.”

Despite the positive changes Norris that things will take time to come together and recalibrate and said, “So not everything is purely direct in Formula 1, a lot of things take time, so I guess you have that part of it too, but definitely things have taken a step forward so I can easily confirm that and say it with confidence. But yeah, until we see it, that’s the timely part.”

Read More: Following Red Bull’s Insider News on a Changed Daniel Ricciardo, the Aussie Reflects on His “Depressed” McLaren Stint

Norris suggests that there have been positive changes since the last few changes were made and that things look positive for the future. The Briton was also asked about Rob Marshall as he joins McLaren. 

Lando Norris on what Rob Marshall brings to Mclaren

The 25-year-old explains how Rob Marshall has been at Red Bull for 17 years and has worked with the best minds in the sport. He will bring in a lot of experience and knowledge as he’s got the know-how of what makes a championship-winning team. Norris expressed that a lot of people will look up to him after his successful stint with the Red Bull.

According to the FIA’s drivers press conference, Lando Norris said, “Just knowledge, expertise. He’s been at Red Bull for many, many years, he’s seen a lot of success with the team. He’s been with some of the best minds within Formula 1 and he’s definitely part of that group. So yeah, brains and lap-time I guess are the two big things. He’s a big person, a big signing for us as a team, so, I think someone that a lot of people within McLaren will look up to, respect and so on.”

Watch this Story: How Lando Norris Had a Chance to Go to Red Bull But Instead Chose McLaren

What do you make of Lando Norris instilling his trust in Zak Brown?