Has McLaren missed their best chance for a Formula 1 win this season?

Question

Accepted Answer

McLaren May Have Missed Their Best Opportunity for a Win This Season

Lando Norris believes that McLaren might have already passed up their most significant opportunity to secure a victory in the current Formula One season. This sentiment stems from the team's performance characteristics, particularly their struggles in slower-speed corners, which make upcoming tracks less favourable compared to the conditions experienced in Qatar. While McLaren remains competitive for podium finishes, Norris suggests that Red Bull and Mercedes are currently too fast for them to consistently challenge for wins.
Qatar as a Missed Opportunity

Norris explicitly stated that the Qatar Grand Prix represented McLaren's strongest chance for a win this season, a chance he feels was missed. He highlighted that the track's specific characteristics were particularly well-suited to McLaren's car, a configuration unlikely to be replicated in subsequent races. This assessment is further contextualised by his teammate Oscar Piastri's strong performance in Qatar, where he won the sprint race and secured second place in the main event.
Concerns Over Upcoming Tracks

Looking ahead, Norris expressed significant reservations about the prospects for success in races like Brazil, citing McLaren's difficulties with slow-speed corners. He indicated that the track layouts in upcoming venues are not anticipated to play to McLaren's strengths. This contrasts with tracks like Austin, where Norris led the US Grand Prix for a period before being overtaken by eventual winner Max Verstappen, who secured his 50th career victory and 15th of the season.
Podium Pursuit vs. Race Wins

While Lando Norris has achieved multiple second-place finishes this season, accumulating 12 podiums in his career without a win, he now views winning as a more distant prospect. He acknowledged that McLaren can still contend for podium spots, but realistically, he believes they are not at the same level as Red Bull and Mercedes in terms of overall package performance. Norris is approaching Nick Heidfeld's record of 13 podiums without a victory, with eight of Heidfeld's being second-place finishes.
Future Race Projections

Norris indicated that while races like Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi might offer better opportunities than some of the immediate upcoming circuits, the general outlook for securing a win remains challenging. He suggested that the best opportunities for victory in the current season might have already passed, even as the team aims to maintain strong performances and secure podiums in the remaining races.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Has McLaren missed their best chance for a Formula 1 win this season?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends