Lando Norris says he is pleased to see that McLaren isn’t afraid to make “cold-hearted” decisions for the benefit of the Formula 1 team.
Last month, the Woking-based squad announced structural changes within the F1 organisation that saw James Key vacate his role as Technical Director.
In addition, Peter Prodromou moved into the Technical Director of aerodynamics position, while David Sanchez will become the Technical Director for car concept and performance in January next year.
McLaren admitted at the launch of MCL60 that it had missed targets with the car and anticipated a slow start to the 2023 season.
Point-less races followed in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, although the first race was marred by reliability issues while the Jeddah outing saw both drivers pick up damage on the opening lap.
However, the team’s pace has not threatened the front of the midfield as of yet, a position that McLaren has occupied across the last several years.
It led to a number of technical changes being announced shortly after the start of the 2023 campaign.
“I’m thankful I’m not in that position, it’s a very tough job to be in,” Norris said.
“But yeah, I guess everyone has to make a decision at some point. Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] has bosses too.
“It’s a business at the end of the day, what’s best for the business and not just what looks the nicest. Sometimes you have to be a bit more cold-hearted.
“It happens in every team, it happens at McLaren, but it happens at every team up and down the grid.”
Amid the series of rotations that have been executed, Norris says that it was “clear” that something had to make way.
“You always want better people and you try to get rid of the people who are maybe not performing to the level that you need,” he said.
“Especially in F1, when it’s so tough and so tight. You don’t want any weaknesses in any shape or form.
“Thankfully I just drive the cars and I drive the result of everything that happens above. But it’s clear that changes needed to be made, and they were.”
Norris is currently tied down to McLaren until the end of the 2025 campaign, having extended his deal last year.
Second is first of the losers.
The cream of the crop rises 2 the top.
James Key just SANK.