Lando Norris is keeping the faith in McLaren despite the reigning constructors’ champions nightmare start to the season.
World champion Norris failed to start in China a fortnight ago, while teammate Oscar Piastri is yet to start a Grand Prix this year. F1 PRACTICE LIVE FROM 1.30PM AEDT.
Ahead of the opening practice in Japan on Friday, Norris told reporters that he believes McLaren can turn things around like they did two years ago.
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The Brit also shared his view like last year, he can have “the best car” on the track once McLaren’s upgrades are completed before Miami in May.
“I can’t remember how many points we were behind in 2024 from Mercedes and Red Bull, Ferrari, but I think we were over 150 points [115 points] or something behind and we still managed to come back and win the Constructors’,” Norris said.
“What we are thinking of is getting on the podium first of all, and then just returning to winning races. The points then take care of themselves and we’ll see what we can claw back. But we’re confident in that.
“I want to say I think we’re confident as a team and we believe in ourselves that we’ve won the last two championships and we won the Drivers’ last year because we could build the best car on the grid, and I’m confident we can get back to doing that this year.
“It just takes time. You have to be patient. But yes, I have a good belief in the team and I think we can have the best car this year.”
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Norris also took the chance to take a dig at rivals Mercedes after they claimed a one-two in Melbourne and Shanghai.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli now have targets on their backs, but Norris believes his credits in the bank have him better placed than the Mercedes pair.
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“We’re certainly not where we wanted to be. The real question you probably ask is would I rather be here and have won last year, or would I rather have a slightly better car now and not have won last year, and I think you know what my answer would be,” he said.
“You can’t have the best of everything. As a team we certainly are not where we want to be and where we desire to be, but I think we all know within the team what we can achieve. And now is just as good a time as ever to prove exactly what we can do as a team – against Ferrari, against Mercedes, who are performing very well at the minute.
“But I know all the boys and the girls back in the factory are working very hard and there’s good progress happening.”