Метка: McLaren

Norris can beat Verstappen in straight fight but ‘many races ending in tears’

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Norris led home Verstappen in F1’s most recent race in Miami – the Briton gaining from a mid-race safety car just as he appeared to be growing into a victory threat and with Verstappen having damaged his Red Bull.

The result has raised hopes of further battles between the pair now McLaren has made a step forward with its upgraded 2024 car, as occurred for much of the second half of the 2023 campaign – albeit with Verstappen typically enjoying a car performance advantage.

McLaren boss Brown was asked for his thoughts on the outcome of a potentially closer Norris and Verstappen fight at last weekend’s Monaco Historique Grand Prix event.

Brown was racing his 1980 Alan Jones-driving Williams FW07B, while McLaren paraded several cars driven by the legendary Ayrton Senna on the 30th anniversary of his death at Imola in 1994.

“I do think Lando can beat Max in a straight fight,” Brown said in an exclusive interview with Autosport.

“I think it would be an awesome fight, I think many races would end in tears – for one or the other, or both.

“But I think as far as raw talent can be, I’ve not seen someone faster than Lando.

“I’m sure Max is just as fast, I’m sure some people will disagree and ultimately, we’ll never know until you see them in the same car.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, congratulates Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, in Parc Ferme

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 2nd position, congratulates Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

“But, from everything I can see of Lando, I don’t see a faster racing driver out there.

“What’s exciting is Oscar [Piastri] can match him. As he gets more experience I think he’ll match him more often.”

Brown also believes Norris will now “take yet another step forwards” in terms of his personal results after clinching his first F1 win in his 110 GP starts, following a series of near-misses back in 2021.

“For sure,” said Brown. “There’s something about when drivers get their first win.

“I remember from when I got my first win, now you know you’ve done it [the first win] just relaxes drivers and they don’t have to try as hard. In anything, you can try too hard and that kind of works against you.”

Norris’s first F1 victory follows his decision early in 2024 to sign another contract extension with McLaren.

This ties him to the team for almost a decade, from the start of his F1 career until the contract ends in 2027.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Brown said Norris was “very loyal” but had been convinced to re-sign by McLaren’s efforts to improve its initially disappointing 2023 F1 car into what ended up being a sprint race winner with Piastri, plus the work of then first-year team principal Andrea Stella.

“People need to be loyal to their careers, but loyalty will only take you so far,” said Brown.

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“But I think he saw the turnaround we made last year, with his belief in Andrea Stella, his belief in the entire team – it’s family, he loves the McLaren brand.

“But, most importantly, I think he has confidence we’re going to give him a race-winning car and last weekend, we did. That has only raised his confidence even further.”



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Piastri «more conscious of his strengths» after Miami F1 race

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Piastri had the better start of the two McLaren drivers in Miami, muscling his way past Norris, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez after the latter went straight on in the first corner.

In a McLaren that didn’t receive all the upgrades that Norris’ MCL38 had equipped, Piastri nevertheless showed great pace early on and passed the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc to move up to second behind Max Verstappen.

But it was Norris who vaulted to the top after delaying his only pitstop until a mid-race safety car gave the Briton a free stop, with Norris controlling the race from the restart to take an emphatic maiden win.

PLUS: The three factors that mean Norris’s Miami F1 win can’t be cast as a safety car fluke

In the fight for fourth, Sainz was penalised for contact with Piastri, which forced the Australian to pit for a new front wing and left him down in 13th at the finish.

While his own race ended in disaster, Stella believes Piastri will take courage from his performance alongside Norris this weekend in a less rapid McLaren ahead of receiving the same specification as Norris in Imola.

«I think Oscar comes out of this weekend even more conscious of his strengths as a driver,» Stella said.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

«We knew already how fast he is on a single lap, considering that he didn’t have the full package. Let me pay proper credit to Oscar, the gap he had to Lando in qualifying is smaller than the difference of the package he had.

«So, he was really pulling off strong performance over a single lap in very difficult conditions like all drivers said with the soft tyres.»

Stella added: «His performance in the race was again very strong. Lando said something really nice before, he said by looking at Oscar overtaking a Ferrari, he felt: ‘Wow, we are actually there today’, so it was a realisation for Lando himself.

«He comes away from this weekend with this sort of conviction, especially in terms of race pace, which is something we wanted to improve having looked at Japan, having looked at China. So, for me, he’s in a very strong place.»

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Stella also praised Piastri for not kicking up a fuss when told Norris would get priority on the full upgrade package, which also included a revised floor and sidepods.

«He has proven once again how strong a team player he is, because clearly when I told him, ‘Oscar we are going to give the sidepods and the floor to Lando’, he wasn’t the happiest in the bottom of his heart,» Stella said.

«But at no point he made this decision difficult or asked why. He understood the reasoning and he was immediately supportive, like all the entourage around Oscar.»



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How the mutual faith between Norris and McLaren F1 is finally paying off

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Norris’ journey with McLaren goes back way further than that, with CEO Zak Brown taking a personal interest in the Briton’s career even before he joined the Woking squad’s young driver programme in 2017, aged 16.

«I regard Lando as a fabulous prospect,» Brown said at the time. «He blew the doors off his rivals in not one but three highly competitive race series last year, then capped that by establishing himself as the clear winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.»

And while some doubted the wisdom of Norris being fast-tracked into a McLaren seat in 2019, at the tender age 18, he quickly showed he belonged, going on to match Carlos Sainz as the team rallied from its disastrous Honda years.
Norris steadily built up a bank of podium finishes, but wins were never on the cards against the might of Mercedes and Red Bull, other than a near-miss at the wet 2021 Russian Grand Prix.

The race went haywire for Norris after a botched strategy call cost him a likely maiden win, and it was long unfairly used as a stick to beat Norris with, allegedly a sign of him buckling under the pressure on those rare occasions when the highest prize came within reach.

Brown and Norris’s team bosses — first Andreas Seidl, then Andrea Stella — consistently waved away any criticism on their golden child, even though a self-critical Norris was often the first to slate himself for various mistakes in qualifying over the past two seasons, singling out his consistency as a key weakness he addressed over the past winter.

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Erik Junius

«Lando definitely stands together with them,» Stella explained before the start of this season. «It is the same category of world championship material, the underlying talent, the mindset, the work ethos. It’s all ready to go.»

That’s why McLaren was so adamant to ensure it would complete its shared journey with Norris to the top, handing him generous contract renewals to fend off frequent interest from Red Bull, with his latest extension in January this year tying Norris to the squad «beyond the 2026 season».

Their shared history also explains why Norris’ win in Miami, his 16th podium with the team but arguably his first proper opportunity with a winning car, created such a jolt of electricity through the Hard Rock Stadium paddock. While Daniel Ricciardo’s win in Monza 2021 was equally celebrated by the papaya team, this one ‘hit different’, as the internet saying goes.

«Yes, this feels a bit personal. This feels really special. He’s been with us from day one. He’s had so many second places, it’s good to get this one done,» Brown told broadcaster Viaplay.

While McLaren never doubted its faith in Norris and is starting to repay it, conversely Norris would have had several reasons to look over the fence and deeply consider Christian Horner’s repeat advances.

On F1’s switch to 2022’s ground-effect-based regulations, McLaren missed the mark and lost out to Alpine in the fight for fourth, with Norris taking McLaren’s only podium in Imola.

The start of 2023, however, was McLaren’s true nadir, turning up with a car that it already knew had sent it up the wrong development path.

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, celebrates with his trophy

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, celebrates with his trophy

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Following 2022’s lack of progress, Brown had already appointed Stella to take over from Seidl as team principal, with technical director James Key replaced in March 2023 by a three-pronged leadership structure as it awaited other infrastructure projects coming to fruition.

It was a lean period that seriously challenged Norris’ belief in McLaren being the team that could fulfil his ambitions. And while it was thought unlikely that he would leave the team he called his home for money or other non-sporting reasons, at some point McLaren would have to come good on its on-track promises.

«It’s tough because I’m a competitive guy and I want to win. Of course, at times you think what could you do in order to get into the position earlier,» Norris said at the start of 2023 about exploring his options.

«But also, I’m very comfortable with where I am right now. I have definitely not lost faith in the team that I’m part of and I’m very happy to be part of the journey to hopefully getting back to winning championships and winning races.

«I have the patience to wait out those few more years.»

McLaren’s rapid — if not unprecedented — progress towards the latter half of 2023 vindicated Norris’ belief in Brown and Stella to turn things around, but the prospect of a free Red Bull seat in 2025 again tested their bond last winter.

Still, Norris turned down the best seat in the paddock for 2025 by re-signing in January, giving McLaren another vote of confidence that it can be as well equipped as anyone to come out ahead of the 2026 regulations changes.

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

«It’s the thing I’m happiest about with getting the contract out,» Norris said. «They are now even more assured that I’m committed to the team and that I’ve picked McLaren over, Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, whatever team, it could have been.

«Where am I most confident that I can actually achieve a world championship? If you asked me at the beginning of 2023, maybe it wouldn’t have been McLaren.

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«But now I think I’m more confident than ever in saying it’s going to be McLaren.”

A landmark Miami win for Norris and McLaren may have come with some caveats, and it is still some way of regularly challenging Red Bull, but it is the latest sign their mutual faith is starting to pay off.



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Who is Lando Norris, F1’s newest grand prix winner?

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The McLaren driver crossed the line 7.6 seconds clear of the all-conquering Max Verstappen, converting a strategy in which he went long on the medium-compound tyres and pouncing on a safety car to cycle out ahead of the three-time world champion.

Dispelling the disappointment of his 2021 near-miss at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, Norris’ victory appeared to be a popular one among the rest of the grid — and the Briton received much in the way of congratulations from his adversaries as he completed arguably his most memorable saunter into parc ferme.

PLUS: The factors that mean Norris’ Miami win can’t be cast as a safety car fluke

«I’ve always had respect for everyone I race against, from the top to the bottom of every category that I’ve gone through since karting,» Norris said. «I’ve always had respect for my competitors and the people I raced against. And I’ve always said that. So as much as when you put the helmet on you hate them, and you want to beat them, and you don’t care who’s who, I’ve always had respect for the people I’ve raced against. 

«So when anyone comes up [to me], especially people who have achieved a lot, because it always means a little bit more. So when Lewis, Fernando, Max, Charles, Carlos, whenever they come up to you or people have good words for you, I appreciate those things a lot. Because from these people, it means something. They’re the people who know what it takes to achieve these types of things, for the work, the time, the effort that goes into doing something like this.»

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, embraces Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, to congratulate him on his race win

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, embraces Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, to congratulate him on his race win

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Born in the port city of Bristol, situated between the mouth of the River Avon and River Severn, Norris is in his sixth season of racing in F1 for McLaren — with whom he shares a lengthy association. The Woking outfit signed Norris to its young driver squad at the start of 2017, ahead of his sole season in the now-defunct FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

Contrary to popular belief, Norris was not — he says — named after Star Wars character Lando Calrissian. Half-Belgian thanks to his mother Cisca, Norris nonetheless races under the British flag and grew up in the Somerset town of Glastonbury, known for its yearly music festival held in nearby Pilton. This allowed him to become a day-boarder at Millfield, a private school known for its contribution to sports — and where fellow racing driver Sam Bird was also educated. 

Initially not interested in racing, Norris started watching F1 with his father Adam — a Bristol-based businessman — and started to develop a keenness for it. After his victory in Miami, Norris paid tribute to his family for its support throughout his racing career — and to his grandmother over the team radio.

«I spoke to my mum and my dad already, which is always nice. Normally my dad comes to the races, but not today, so I’m sure he’s regretting that just a little bit. My parents have been so supportive. You know, they’re the ones who are with you from the start. They allowed everything to happen. They’re the ones that got me into racing, supported me, and allowed me to get to Formula 1, reach my dream, and do what I’ve loved to do since I was a kid. 

«And I’m very fortunate for everything that they’ve done and the position they’ve allowed me to be in. You think of those moments, and therefore, of course, I want to speak to my mum and dad, first of all, because you shared all those moments with them. And I just say a big thanks. And for my grandma, because she’s not been so well lately. I saw her last week, and I told her that I was going to win a race. I didn’t say when. I just said I was going to win a race. And I didn’t think it would be coming this soon. So I’m just very happy that I was able to do it as quickly as I did.»

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, kisses the winners trophy

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, kisses the winners trophy

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Also exposed to racing through the Gran Turismo video game series, Norris had the racing bug truly sinking its teeth into him when he was taken along with his brother Ollie to watch the karting British Championships at Clay Pigeon, the karting course near Dorchester where Jenson Button first started to race. 

«Me being me, I wanted to have a go!,» Norris told the Formula 2 website in 2018. «Soon after, I got a Bambino go-kart to drive around at home, and it started there…»

Norris picked up karting and, by 2013, he was competing on a global stage. There, he won the Junior class of the CIK-FIA European Championship — the same year Max Verstappen won the higher KF2 category — and went on to take victory in the CIK-FIA World Championship in 2014.

What is Norris’ junior racing record?

Alongside his Karting World Championship efforts, Norris started competing in the Ginetta Juniors Championship, a series on the support package of the British Touring Car Championship. At the age of 14 Norris was now exposed to a UK TV audience and behind the wheel of a Ginetta G40 in a full circuit race for the first time. Initially, Norris was only supposed to take part in the second half of the season, but ended up competing in the full championship — where he finished third behind future GT racers Jack Mitchell and James Kellett.

Norris moved to another of the BTCC’s undercard events in 2015: MSA Formula — built from the ashes of the defunct British Formula Ford Championship as the FIA rolled out its Formula 4 class worldwide. This was the first time Norris drove for Carlin, and he beat Ricky Collard and Colton Herta to the title to earn a move to the Formula Renault 2.0 championship.

Lando Norris

Lando Norris

Photo by: Daniel James Smith

His campaign there was preceded by the New Zealand-based Toyota Racing Series in the spring of 2016, which Norris won convincingly over former karting rival Jehan Daruvala. Titles in Formula Renault 2.0’s Eurocup and NEC championships followed, driving for Josef Kaufmann’s team, prior to his reunion with Carlin for a stab at the 2017 Formula 3 European Championship.

Having marked himself as a star of the future with his sweep of championship wins, Norris was signed to the McLaren Young Driver programme, which was one of new CEO Zak Brown’s first points of business after taking over at McLaren. Against stern competition from second-year driver Joel Eriksson and third-year racer Maximilian Guenther, Norris chalked up nine victories to claim another title with two races to spare — naturally winning the rookies’ championship in the process.

Lando Norris, Carlin Dallara F317 - Volkswagen

Lando Norris, Carlin Dallara F317 — Volkswagen

Photo by: FIA F3 / Suer

This elevated Norris into Formula 2, which had introduced its new F2 2018 chassis. Carlin had left the series, then known as GP2, at the end of 2016 but had re-entered the championship a year later, Norris being partnered by Sergio Sette Camara at the British squad. A one-off for Campos at the end of 2017 gave Norris a taster of what to expect, and the Briton continued to deliver in the early tests to mark himself out as a championship contender. Ahead of his first full year in F2, Norris competed in the Daytona 24 Hours alongside Fernando Alonso and Philip Hanson for United Autosports — the endurance racing team owned by Brown.

Considered as one of the best seasons of F2 thanks to its depth of talent, 2018 was contested by Norris, who won the Bahrain opener, ART’s George Russell, and Anglo-Thai driver Alex Albon — who converted a race-by-race deal with DAMS into a full season thanks to a strong start to the championship.

Despite opening strongly in securing the feature race victory in the Bahrain season opener (his last victory in any category before his Miami GP win) Norris did not reach the top step again in 2018 and retained his position in the championship hunt through consistency — although a puncture in the rain-affected Sochi round ended his championship hopes before the field diverted to its Yas Marina finale. Russell claimed the crown when Albon was taken out in a start-line incident following a stall, a frequent feature of the 2018 F2 car owing to a series of clutch issues. 

Lando Norris, Carlin

Lando Norris, Carlin

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Regardless, Norris impressed sufficiently in F2 and in a series of FP1 sessions for McLaren to earn a step up to F1 in 2019 — replacing Stoffel Vandoorne at the team.

How has Norris performed in F1?

Norris was partnered by Carlos Sainz in 2019, the Spaniard signed to replace compatriot Fernando Alonso in the latter’s first retirement from F1. The two quickly formed a firm friendship, and combined to help McLaren move back up the grid after a series of lean years with Honda powertrains and problematic cars.

In his first F1 race at Albert Park, Norris qualified eighth and finished 12th, and followed that up with his first points through finishing sixth in Bahrain. He amassed 49 points in his maiden season as McLaren made great strides forward with its MCL34, almost half of Sainz’s tally that year. His second season proved more felicitous despite the impact of COVID, and he claimed a maiden podium at the Red Bull Ring opener. This time, he finished just eight points behind Sainz, ahead of the Madrid-born driver’s move to Ferrari in 2021.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, and Lando Norris, McLaren, celebrate on the podium after the race

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1, and Lando Norris, McLaren, celebrate on the podium after the race

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Contracted at McLaren for a third season, Norris was partnered with Daniel Ricciardo for 2021 — which was billed as his most serious test in F1 given the Australian was still highly rated at the time. However, Norris outperformed the ex-Red Bull driver and claimed all but one of the team’s five podium finishes — albeit the one that would have likely stung the most. In a zany Italian Grand Prix where title adversaries Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crashed at the chicane, Ricciardo assumed the lead — and Norris directed to play rear gunner against the chasing Valtteri Bottas. McLaren thus secured its first 1-2 finish since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix.

Norris had his own opportunity to win at the next race at Sochi, and took his first pole from Sainz. Although the Ferrari driver snatched the lead at the start, Norris reclaimed it on the 13th lap and managed the race well — keeping Lewis Hamilton at bay until rain started to fall. Hamilton took the opportunity to pit for intermediates while Norris, anticipating a short shower, elected to stay out. That call proved to be hubristic, and he lost a lot of time to Hamilton while struggling on the slicks — and eventually aquaplaned off the circuit to throw away a shot at victory.

Lando Norris, McLaren, comiserates with himself after the race

Lando Norris, McLaren, commiserates with himself after the race

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Although Norris committed his long-term future to McLaren, its first foray into the ground-effect regulations mandated for 2022 was not entirely successful and he managed just one podium finish all year — at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. 2023 started out even more disastrously, with just 12 points scored in the opening eight races, but Norris benefitted from a vastly improved car at the Austria round to ignite a season where he claimed seven grand prix podiums. His first victory had to wait once more when Oscar Piastri won out in the Qatar sprint.

That brings us to 2024, and Norris’ best career start to an F1 championship season with three podiums — including his Miami Grand Prix victory. After walking away from China with second place, Norris had the unwanted record of holding the most podiums — 15 — without a win. This record now returns to Nick Heidfeld.

Podium: race winner David Coulthard, McLaren, second place Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, third place Nick Heidfeld, Sauber

Podium: race winner David Coulthard, McLaren, second place Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, third place Nick Heidfeld, Sauber

Photo by: Motorsport Images

How does Norris approach racing in F1?

In speaking to the media, Norris has often exhibited a self-deprecative and cautious approach when discussing his chances. Even after good results, it appears he is a natural pessimist — and instead draws attention to his own weaknesses rather than opting for self-aggrandisement. Speaking about this after his Miami win, Norris stated that this is a source of motivation.

«I have my times when I’m happy with what I’m able to go out and do. I’m just one of those guys that I’m not happy when I know I’ve not done the job I’m capable of doing,» he said. And [this win] shows what I’m capable of doing. I think all year I’ve done a very good job. And I’ve worked hard and I’ve eliminated and got rid of a lot of my weaknesses.

«I’m still going to be that guy. I don’t think that’s going to change. That’s what works for me. That’s my mindset. Everyone has their own way of doing things, their own approach, their own way that they talk to themselves and think of: how can I approach today? How can I go out and do the best job? For me, it’s talking down at myself and kind of putting myself down because for me that’s what works and I’m fine with that. 

«I don’t need other people to be happy with it and for other people to agree with it. It’s what’s best for me, and what works best is what’s made me who I am and I think that’s my best way of going forward. So I’m going to have my days when the glass is full and I can be happy and I’m proud of myself. Everyone’s going to have those days and everyone should have those days. But in order to make myself the best man, the best driver, I have my way of doing things and I stick to that.»

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, lifts the trophy in celebration on the podium

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, lifts the trophy in celebration on the podium

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

What does Norris do outside of racing — and what’s next in F1?

In 2020, Norris set up Quadrant — a company that focuses on «racing, gaming, clothing and content» with multiple streamers, and has since received investment from YouTuber Will Lenney. Much of the company’s involvement expands into Esports and the sale of clothing, but it will expand into an athlete support programme.

He has also cultivated a following through streaming on Twitch, which he has also used for charitable endeavours — raising money for COVID response funds and mental health charity Mind. He also plays golf, playing in various Pro-Am tournaments — notably the Netflix Cup held ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023.

Norris has a long-term contract with McLaren, which spans until the end of the 2027 season. It is known that he has held talks with Red Bull previously on more than one occasion, but has ultimately committed to McLaren following them. 

McLaren has committed to Mercedes power for the incoming powertrain regulatory overhaul in 2026, with a deal that extends to 2030. 



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Miami F1 win a weight off McLaren’s shoulders, not just Norris

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Norris finally broke his duck in F1 on his 110th start, taking a convincing win at the Miami International Autodrome albeit with help from a well-timed safety car.

It was Norris’ first win in a motor race in over 2200 days, having previously claimed 15 podiums in F1 before climbing the top step.

Norris admitted that finally taking his first victory was a weight off his shoulders, but according to team principal Stella that could also be said of the team itself, because it was finally able to give the 24-year-old a car that was quick enough to do so.

«I think [not winning] was a bit of a weight on his shoulders, but it was a weight on our shoulders as well ,» Stella said when quizzed by Autosport.

«We knew as soon as we made winning material available to Lando, he would have delivered. So we felt the responsibility and I have said that many times, that it is up to us, it is not up to Lando.

«But credit to Lando, he kept developing over the winter, especially looking at improving in qualifying and delivering laps that sometimes don’t have to be 100% when you have a fast car, just be there. I think he is doing that.»

The Italian added: «That’s for me a testament to how ready he was, and also if we look at what he delivered in podiums with a car that sometimes wasn’t really a podium finisher on merit, for me Lando is in a very strong journey.»

Stella praised Norris for keeping his powder dry in the first stint on medium tyres when stuck in traffic, only to then deliver one fastest lap after the other once he found clear air, pace that even had Red Bull’s Max Verstappen rightly worried.

«I have to say that his race management is very mature,» said Stella. «As soon as he saw there wasn’t much to do after the first lap, he started to save his tyres because he knew his race would come at some stage.

«The pace he was able to pull off when the cars ahead of him pitted, that was quite incredible. He was getting the most out of the material he has.

«We needed to provide him with winning material. And as soon as we did it, he achieved it.»



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Lando Norris wins for McLaren

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Norris beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari after the McLaren ace took full advantage to make his pitstop under the safety car, unlike all his rivals.

2024 F1 Miami Grand Prix results

2024 F1 Miami Grand Prix report

Polesitter Verstappen led the charge to Turn 1, as his team-mate Sergio Perez divebombed down the inside of the Ferraris but locked up and went straight on – just missing Verstappen.

Leclerc ran second from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz initially, but a fast-starting Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – from sixth on the grid – snatched third from the Spaniard around the outside at Turn 2, while Perez recovered in fifth, ahead of Norris.

Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) passed Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, which started on hard tyres among a mostly medium-shod field, for seventh. Further back, the Alpines raced wheel to wheel through the Turns 13-14-15 and 16 sequence in an argument over 13th, with Pierre Gasly grabbing the spot after a brush of wheels.

Verstappen pulled clear of Leclerc’s DRS range, leaving the lead Ferrari prone to Piastri and Sainz. Piastri DRS-ed past Leclerc at Turn 17 at the end of lap four but was already 2s behind Verstappen.

Perez fell away from the leaders, into the clutches of Norris. Hamilton regained seventh from Hulkenberg on the approach to Turn 11 on lap seven, with Lewis reporting “we nearly had a big crash there” as he was squeezed towards the wall.

But Hamilton locked up six corners later and allowed Hulkenberg ahead of him again. They swapped places again three laps later, with George Russell (Mercedes) also getting by at Turn 11 a couple of laps later, which was Hulkenberg’s cue to pit for hard tyres.

The first of the frontrunners to stop was Perez on lap 18, as Norris began to hound him for fifth. Released, Norris immediately set fastest lap.

Leclerc pitted on lap 20, rejoining in sixth behind the long-running Hamilton. He pulled a superb around-the-outside move on the seven-time champion at Turn 11.

There was drama at the front too, as Verstappen collected the bollard at the apex of Turn 15 and was fortunate that it was jettisoned from the car after initially getting tangled up in his front wing and suspension. That resulted in a brief virtual safety car, to retrieve the pieces of bollard safely – but there wasn’t time for any of the leading lights to make a ‘cheap’ pitstop.

Verstappen pitted at the end of lap 23, allowing Piastri to lead from Sainz and Norris. Sainz stopped on lap 28, just before Kevin Magnussen (Haas) and Logan Sargeant (Williams) clashed at Turn 3, causing a full safety car. Sargeant slammed backwards into the wall, but stepped from his car unhurt.

Norris’s long-running strategy thus paid off, as he was able to make a ‘free’ pitstop, rejoining well clear of Verstappen in the lead. Perez pitted again, going back onto mediums.

Norris led the restart from Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz and Perez. Yuki Tsuonda grabbed seventh from Hamilton at Turn 11.

Norris extracted himself from Verstappen’s DRS range with a brilliant opening lap, while Sainz duelled hard with Piastri for fourth – banging wheels at Turn 11. Moments later, Hamilton repassed Tsunoda around the outside of Turn 12.

Norris kept banging in impressive lap times, leaving Verstappen in his wake. Max complained: “I can’t get the car to turn, it’s a disaster.”

Sainz passed Piastri for fourth with a robust move with contact at Turn 17 on lap 39, and just managed to stay ahead as the Australian retaliated into Turn 1. Stewards will investigate their collision after the race.

Perez and Hamilton then passed Piastri, who suffered front wing damage when Sainz clipped him and was forced to pit.

Norris proved unassailable out front, beating Verstappen by 7.6s, who had Leclerc 2s further back.

Sainz finished fourth, but must see the stewards, from Perez and Hamilton.

Tsunoda finished seventh, ahead of Russell, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Esteban Ocon scored Alpine’s first point of the season in 10th.

2024 F1 Miami Grand Prix fastest laps

Cla Nº Driver  Car / Engine   Time   Delay   Kp/h 
1  81 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1’30.634   214.965
2  23 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1’30.849 0.215 214.456
3  11 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1’30.855 0.221 214.442
4  55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1’30.928 0.294 214.270
5  4 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1’30.980 0.346 214.148
6  16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1’31.084 0.450 213.903
7  44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1’31.233 0.599 213.554
8  1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1’31.261 0.627 213.488
9  18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1’31.588 0.954 212.726
10  22 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 1’31.682 1.048 212.508
11  14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1’31.727 1.093 212.404
12  20 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1’31.774 1.140 212.295
13  63 George Russell Mercedes 1’31.921 1.287 211.955
14  27 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 1’31.941 1.307 211.909
15  24 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 1’31.991 1.357 211.794
16  31 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1’32.037 1.403 211.688
17  10 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1’32.055 1.421 211.647
18  77 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 1’32.098 1.464 211.548
19  3 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 1’32.122 1.488 211.493
20  2 Logan Sargeant Williams/Mercedes 1’33.452 2.818 208.483



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McLaren can catch Red Bull in next 12 months if it maintains F1 gains

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


McLaren has enjoyed something of a renaissance under Stella’s leadership following a difficult start to the 2023 season, scoring just 14 points in the opening five rounds. Heavy revisions to last year’s MCL60 chassis, which came to life during the Austrian GP weekend, ensured that the team returned to challenging for poles and podium finishes.

This rate of development continued and, building on that for 2024, McLaren has consolidated its position in the upper half of the field — and has scored 96 points in the same frame of reference, 82 more than last year.

Stella explained that the focus was on maintaining that rate of development and, if it does so, he believes the Woking squad can realistically battle against Red Bull for honours in 2025.

«I think overall, if we take the 12-month period, we have developed more than anybody else. I think Red Bull did not develop very much last year. Clearly, they were working quite a lot in the background because they innovated the car dramatically,» Stella reflected.

«To innovate the car like they did — it takes months of redesign. They were doing all this work, and then when they came with a new car, it was a big step.

«So even if we lost some ground, I think we lost some ground because we gained so much ground before and while they were not developing.

«That’s why I think we need to look at things over the long period. Over the long period, we are in a strong trajectory. For me, this is also what we say internally: if we keep this trajectory of development for the next 12 months, then why not? We may reach Red Bull.»

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

McLaren will introduce a series of updates at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, although Stella concedes that they will not be as wide-ranging as some of the packages introduced last season.

Regardless, he believes that these will present a «decent step» per the team’s current simulation, assuming the team’s current correlation with the real world remains strong.

«We’re going to have some upgrades in Miami, let’s see how they perform. Then, like for everyone, there’s a lot of people at the factory that are all focused on generating developments and it’s always a battle of development.

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«That’s the real job in Formula 1, just constantly improve cars. That’s what we have to do.

«This upgrade will not be as big as the two that we had delivered last year in Austria and Singapore. But it should be a decent step, it should be noticeable. If things correlate with our expectation, with the wind tunnel numbers, for instance, and with the computer simulation.

«It’s always a big if. Because even if the hit rate of this correlation has been good over the last 12 months, there’s always possible surprises.»



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F1 might never have a driver with Alonso’s longevity again

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Alonso’s recent Aston Martin contract extension means he will carry on racing until at least the end of the 2026 F1 campaign, by which time he will be 45.

That would make him the oldest F1 driver to compete since Graham Hill in 1975.

Alonso already holds the record for the most grand prix races ever started and is set to hit an unprecedented 400 GPs at the 2024 Qatar round.

McLaren driver Norris was asked about Alonso’s longevity – it is 23 years since the Spaniard made his F1 debut, next year will be the 20th anniversary of his first world championship, while his most recent world title came for Toyota in the 2018-2019 World Endurance Championship – at last weekend’s Chinese GP.

While also answering a question about whether he would like to race for so long, Norris replied: “I’d better be careful what I say. I think it takes a lot of dedication – I don’t think anyone thinks Fernando lacks that in any way.

“He shows that with everything that he does in life. Whether it’s at the track or away from the track, in different sports or whatever.

“So, it depends on what you want to do. Everyone is different. It’s rare that you see someone commit for so long in any sport.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“He’s probably one of the oldest guys competing at the top of any sport in the world and I think to be able to do that at the level that he has done and continues to do, you’re probably never going to potentially see it again, within Formula 1. And if you do, it’s going be extremely rare.

“[I have] a lot of lot of respect for that kind of thing. I have no idea if I’ll want to do it in 20 years’ time, if I’m still going strong.

“But I love where I am now and if I continue to do such a thing, yeah, we’ll see.”

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Speaking alongside Norris, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon were equally uncertain on how long they envision their F1 stints ideally lasting.

Ocon said Alonso’s record is “a dream career for any athlete or racing driver” and added, “I don’t know if I would still be racing at his age but, truly, his dedication is something that is an example for all of us”.

Leclerc said it is “difficult to imagine myself in 15- or 18-years’ time still [racing] in F1”, but also revealed he is eyeing a specific new late-career challenge in any case.

“I would love to be racing still for many years,” he added. “I would like to experience other things like Le Mans – that’s definitely a place where I will see myself racing one day.

“I mean as long as I am fully motivated then I will race. And I love what I do, so for now that’s what I want to do for the longest time possible.”

Watch: Adrian Newey Set to Leave Red Bull



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McLaren «surprised» by China F1 race pace after sprint struggles

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


McLaren’s Lando Norris started on pole for Saturday morning’s 19-lap sprint race but after going off at the start he fell down to seventh. That became sixth at the chequered flag due to Fernando Alonso’s retirement, finishing in front of team-mate Oscar Piastri but behind both Ferraris.

Its race pace relative to the Scuderia seemed in line with the Woking team’s muted expectations for the weekend, but that picture completely changed on Sunday when Norris split the Red Bulls to finish second, while Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc failed to finish in the top-five.

Norris said there was «nothing pointing» to the team’s better-than-expected competitiveness on Sunday, but team boss Stella suggested the cooler conditions provided a possible explanation.

«In fairness, in the sprint, we didn’t see that we had race pace that would have allowed us to finish ahead of Ferrari. It was in line somehow with what we expected before coming here,» Stella said.

«So it’s a bit of a surprise, especially in terms of race pace. We know that we are strong when we have new soft rubber, we can do a good job for a single lap, but when we put laps one after the other, we tend to lose some performance.

«But I think somehow the track conditions and the cold conditions, the fact that there was no sunshine, helped keep the rear tyres under control. And therefore we could use the strengths of the car, like we saw in qualifying.

«The rear axle especially was not overheating. While if we look at the sprint, I think we had a bit of overheating and Ferrari seemed to be more comfortable.»

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Piastri finished eighth after sustaining damage in the safety car collision between Daniel Ricciardo and Lance Stroll, with Ricciardo’s RB tagging his diffuser that Stella says cost him up to fourth-tenths per lap.

«It was a big loss,» Stella explained. «Oscar had damage on the diffuser, he lost a significant amount of rear downforce, equivalent to four-tenths of a second, something like that.

«When we heard the numbers, I wasn’t very optimistic that we could have held positions like Oscar has been able to do.

«His result is less noticeable than Lando’s, but I think he did a good job in trying to understand how to drive the car when he lost so much rear downforce. The car was very oversteery.

«He managed to make some adaptations and keep [Lewis] Hamilton behind, so that’s also a strong result.»



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