“Weren’t Meant to Have These Bits”: After McLaren TP’s Scathing Warning, Lando Norris Lauds Surprise Performance Boost

After weeks of misery and a surprise result in Australia, McLaren is finally set to take matters into their own hands. The Woking-based outfit, as revealed earlier in the week, will start the eventful Austrian weekend with its expansive upgrades. These upgrades, as foretold and warned by TP Andrea Stella, will give a massive boost and bring a “noticeable change” and add a “few tenths” which is an incredible jump in F1 terms. Despite knowing the first of the three-part upgrade is being introduced in Austria, Lando Norris was still surprised by one aspect.

The upgrade will change the MCL60’s look over the three races or, as McLaren’s boss called it, the “B-spec” car. However, the introduction of the B-spec car will start in Austria and will feature only in Norris’s car. Why this one-driver approach? Apart from the tactical approach, the upgrades are being introduced one race early. This is exactly the surprise factor for Norris which he revealed to Sky Sports.

“The team has done a good job. We weren’t meant to have these bits here originally, it was only meant to be for Silverstone. So it’s good we have pushed through as many things as we could, especially with it being a Sprint Race – two races to potentially score points,” said Norris.

“So it’s the first upgrade that’s really meant to bring performance and make us go quicker. It’s been a difficult start and I’m hoping it will be the thing that allows us to score points more easily.”

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Hopes of scoring points and the upgrades coupled with Norris’ track record on the Red Bull Ring point towards a positive race. Even Norris believes it as the Brit communicated his desire to replicate past glory.

Lando Norris looking to add to his collection of happy memories from the Red Bull Ring

The Brit secured his first-ever F1 podium at the Austrian GP back in 2020. The Brit repeated the feat again in 2021. Now with the upgrades, despite the poor start, the Brit is optimistic about the weekend. He is looking to replicate the past glory, or at least add to his collection of happy memories from the iconic venue.

Norris said, “The Red Bull Ring is one of my favorite circuits. It holds a lot of good memories for me, having scored my first podium there. It’s a Sprint weekend too, which always makes it more interesting. It’s all looking promising, so we’ll get out there and give it our all.”

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It will exciting to see where exactly the upgrades put McLaren on the grid hierarchy. Let’s hope, for the team’s sake, they are not overestimating the impact of the upgrade.