“We Are Going to Struggle”: Despite Banking on Revamped MCL60’s Aggression, Lando Norris Exposes McLaren’s Hidden Weakness

McLaren’s recent surge in performance, fueled by a revamped MCL60, has generated excitement and raised hopes within the team. Lando Norris’s impressive podium finish at Silverstone, combined with Oscar Piastri’s near-miss, showcased the potential of McLaren’s upgraded car. However, despite the recent success, Norris has candidly revealed that the team still faces significant challenges and has exposed a weakness within the MCL60.

McLaren’s recent upgrade package has transformed the performance of the MCL60 in Formula 1, particularly excelling in high-speed corners. Lewis Hamilton praised the car as a “rocketship” due to its advantage at Silverstone. The package included significant changes to various areas, such as floor fences, sidepod inlets, aerodynamic fairings, and front wing layout. Lando Norris has showcased the car’s improved performance, highlighting McLaren’s dedication and persistence in their pursuit of competitiveness.

In Norris’s own words as per Speedcafe, “I don’t look forward to the bad races, there’s going to be a couple because there’s definitely tracks that we know we’re going to struggle more at… Our weakness is still the same and quite weak, so I think we really need to try and tackle them if we want to be able to be [at the front] more consistently.” Norris’s acknowledgment of the MCL60’s struggles in slow corners emphasizes the team’s need to address this specific weakness to achieve sustained success.

Read more: “Wants Us to Do Well”: 10 Years After Shocking Defection, Lewis Hamilton’s Reverence for McLaren Exposed by Lando Norris

While Lando Norris continues to impress with his performances at McLaren, his talents have not gone unnoticed by others in the F1 paddock. One ex-F1 champion, Damon Hill, has suggested that Red Bull may consider swooping in to secure Norris’s services.

Red Bull’s Potential Interest in Lando Norris

Following Norris’s impressive showing at Silverstone, Damon Hill raised the possibility of Red Bull targeting the young British driver. Hill highlighted the pressure on Sergio Perez, who has struggled to consistently match Verstappen’s performance. The suggestion is that Red Bull may be considering a fresh face to partner Verstappen, with Norris emerging as a potential candidate due to his prodigious talent and recent success.

Hill speculates, “Possibly Lando… He’s still got a few more years left at McLaren… If you’re that confident in yourself, you need to be able to move when the time is right.” The ex-champion questions Norris’s long-term commitment to McLaren and suggests that a talented driver like Norris should be open to exploring new opportunities when they arise. Will Norris’s long-term commitment to McLaren deter any potential moves, or will the allure of partnering with Max Verstappen at Red Bull prove too enticing to resist?

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