“Now Lando Is Criticizing”: Despite First McLaren Podium in a Year, Norris’ Trusted Confidante Goes Through Trial by Fire

Despite securing his first podium finish in over a year at the British Grand Prix, Lando Norris took a cheeky dig at  McLaren for their tire call during his final stint. While celebrating his second-place finish, Norris humorously referred to McLaren as “beginners” for fitting him with hard tires instead of softs. As Norris celebrates his success, the scrutiny surrounding the tire choice appears to have put Norris’ new race engineer, who recently stepped up to the role, through a trial by fire.

Lando Norris delivered a commendable performance at Silverstone, briefly leading the race after a successful start that saw him overtake Max Verstappen. Although Verstappen regained the lead, Norris held on to secure a second-place finish, matching his career-best Formula 1 result. McLaren’s strong showing propelled them to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship, thanks to a valuable 30-point haul. Expressing gratitude to his team for their efforts, Norris playfully remarked, “They put me on hard tires. I don’t know why; they’re still beginners in some things.” Interestingly, this tire choice, which worked against Norris’ preference, was the first major decision made by his new race engineer.

During the F1 Nation podcast, Tom Clarkson revealed that Lando Norris had a new race engineer for the British Grand Prix. The race engineer’s role is crucial in making strategic decisions, such as choosing the appropriate tires during pit stops. With Will Joseph temporarily absent, Jose, Norris’s performance engineer for the past couple of years, was promoted to the race engineer position. This race weekend marked Jose’s first time making critical decisions independently, and his tire call, which went against Norris’ wishes, drew criticism from the driver himself. Clarkson mentions “Poor Jose it’s the 1st time he had to make that call and now Lando is criticizing.”

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Despite defying the odds and with McLaren making significant strides since the start of the season, Norris still cautions that upcoming tracks may not suit their car, potentially posing challenges in the races ahead.

Lando Norris’s Concerns About McLaren’s Car Performance

McLaren experienced a remarkable turnaround in performance, emerging as the surprise package at the British Grand Prix. Lando Norris delighted the home crowd by briefly leading the race and ultimately finishing second, while teammate Oscar Piastri secured an impressive fourth-place finish. This strong showing follows McLaren’s initial struggles and signifies a positive shift for the team.

Despite the successful outcome at Silverstone, Norris did not shy away from expressing his concerns about the McLaren car. Bluntly describing it as “poor” and “terrible” in slow-speed corners, he acknowledged the difficulties in driving the vehicle. While the team celebrates their recent achievement, Norris is cautious about upcoming tracks that may not be well-suited to the car’s characteristics. He anticipates criticisms and questions about the sudden decline in performance, but remains optimistic about McLaren’s future progress.

Norris’s candid assessment of the car’s raises an important question: Can McLaren overcome these challenges and continue their upward trajectory?

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