McLaren rookie Lando Norris believes the team has a better handle on its problems, and how to rectify any setbacks, compared to its 2018 approach.
McLaren endured a difficult last season amid fundamental aerodynamic flaws with its MCL33, and it finished an uncompetitive sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Norris sampled the MCL33 during various tests and post-summer practice sessions, as he prepared for his full-time 2019 role while also assisting the team with its understanding of the problems.
The British youngster reckons McLaren has managed to address some of those setbacks in the production of its MCL34, and thinks early progress at tackling lingering problems provides encouragement.
“It has been a pretty big change overall and some of the areas where we had a big weakness we’ve strengthened,” explained Norris.
“I’m not saying it is perfect at all as there are still weaknesses but overall I think we have a better package to begin the season with.
“It is not perfect, there are still problems, still things we suffer with, but I think we understand them and when we do add things to the car or change them to help the car in a positive way, where we struggled last year, we’ve done better to move forward.
“In those things the biggest problems we’ve had we’ve been able to move forward in some areas which is the main thing.”
Norris will be the third-youngest driver to start a race in the history of Formula 1 when he lines up on the grid in Melbourne next Sunday.
Only fellow competitors Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll graced the grid at a younger age and Norris insists he feels ready to make the step up to the championship.
“If I compare to how prepared I felt coming into [testing] compared to how I feel now I feel I am in a much better position in terms of knowing what I need to be doing and what I need to do to achieve a good result if I get the opportunity in Melbourne,” he said.
“From that side of things I feel much more confident and I feel I can do the job I need to be doing when I get to the first race.
“I just want to get the first one out of the way and I’m sure I’ll gain more confidence going into the first part of the season.
“I think my aim, for now, is to make sure I am comfortable and confident going into race one and that I come out the same way.”
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