McLaren’s improved competitive position at the end of last year has prompted Lando Norris to expect even “bigger” changes from the team in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Having struggled in the nascent stages of 2023 with an underdeveloped car, the addition of a sizeable mid-season upgrade package propelled McLaren up the order.
Norris capitalised on the improved MCL60 challenger to register a total of seven podiums, spearheading’s McLaren rise to fourth place in the Constructors’ standings.
The Woking squad has been touted as the side most capable of making the progress needed to challenge the dominance of Red Bull, who stormed to 21 wins from 22 races last season en route to retaining both titles.
McLaren’s prospects for 2024 will be aided by utilising its new wind tunnel facility, while the team’s ranks have been bolstered by the arrivals of David Sanchez and Rob Marshall from rivals Ferrari and Red Bull respectively.
Although the law of diminishing returns means McLaren will have less performance to unlock under this regulation cycle, Norris is optimistic that the British outfit’s improved standing will ensure it can discover more gains by fixating on the more minute details.
When asked in Abu Dhabi last month what he anticipates coming from McLaren moving forward, Norris said: “I expect almost bigger changes than we’ve had over the last year.
“I feel like we’ve been in a place now more than ever where we can tackle more things at once.
“If you’re still last, you kind of try to focus a little more on one thing just making the car a little bit quicker.
“Now I think we’re in a much better position, we can focus on some of the finer details – the details which we’ve not really been able to improve much at all over the last five years.”
Despite the remarkable progress McLaren made last season, Norris admitted that he was still having to adapt his driving style to extract results from the team’s updated car.
However, Norris believes McLaren is now in the ideal position to strike that optimal balance between delivering a package that is both competitive and compliant to drive.
He added: “Things that I would love to have more of as a driver and I think suit me more as a driver is trying to work on those things.
“I think now we’re more capable than ever of trying to focus on them and improve them. And that will help with qualifying, it will help with race pace, it will help with racing.
“Some small things can make a big difference. So if we can work on that then I’m hoping we can have a very good car next year. And a more consistent car to be the main thing that we have.”
