Lando Norris has admitted McLaren needs to improve its car and be in the “right place at the “right time” to land wins at some stage in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
McLaren has sustained its strongest start to an F1 season since 2012 with 69 points from the first four races enough to sit third in the Constructors’ Championship.
But having emerged as Red Bull’s most consistent contender in the closing stages of last term, Ferrari has since taken over that mantle with podiums at each round.
McLaren had anticipated that the high-speed Suzuka circuit would suit the strengths of its MCL38 car, but Ferrari overcame a one-lap deficit to demote Norris to fifth.
However, McLaren boss Andrea Stella has outlined that he remains confident it can contemplate victories providing it replicates the development pattern from 2023.
Asked about Stella’s assessment ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Norris, who is still waiting to land an elusive win, ruled out that occurring in the short term.
“Not any time soon – that’s for sure!” he remarked.
But like Stella, Norris reckons that McLaren can be well poised to capitalise on openings such as the one Ferrari took advantage of in Australia later on in the season.
Despite an ambitious strategic gamble costing him a potential spot at Suzuka, Norris accepted that his placing illustrated where McLaren stands in the pecking order.
He added: “I think we can [win with the] right place, right time – if we improve the car how we need too.
“Honestly, there weren’t too many frustrations with Suzuka,” he continued.
“Everything went pretty much as expected. I don’t think we did a perfect job and we probably should’ve finished one place higher up, potentially.
“But I don’t think it was far off. We’ve been the same place all season – behind Red Bull, behind Ferrari and we’ve been a bit of a step ahead of the other two teams come the race.
“And that’s exactly how last weekend went. So, I don’t think there was too many frustrations.”
Norris alluded to McLaren’s slow-speed weakness – which is set to hamper it in Shanghai this weekend – as one area where it possesses a gap to Red Bull and Ferrari.
McLaren is set to debut a substantial upgrade package at the Miami Grand Prix in a fortnight, with more developments to the MCL38 planned for later in the campaign.
“But we know the issues, we know what we have to improve and if we can improve them, I think Andrea is right,” he continued.
“We can win races this year and we can be competitive with these other two teams ahead of us.”
“But that’s an ‘if’ and you have to work hard to improve the car in some of these certain areas, which have been a big challenge for us over the last many years, not just the last few years.
“But, if we can, then I’m confident we can have some good races.”
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