Lando Norris is usually a glass-half-empty Formula 1 driver when it comes to predicting McLaren’s prospects, but now after a string of great results, including second at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the Brit sees “no reason” why the Woking-based squad can’t threaten Red Bull on a race-by-race basis.
Two weeks on from his glorious maiden victory in Miami, Norris found himself several seconds adrift of Max Verstappen as Sunday’s race at Imola drew to a close.
But throughout the final 10 laps, Norris pulled the pin, clawing back Verstappen’s advantage and finishing just seven-tenths back come the fall of the chequered flag.
After coming into the weekend thinking McLaren was the third-fastest team, Norris was in an altogether more positive move after Sunday’s race.
“There’s no reason after a couple of tracks you would want to deny it,” Norris said when asked if he can challenge Verstappen at most circuits.
“We also had a second in China, so we’ve had second, first, second, you know, and I think that’s good signs, but for the same case, I make a one-tenth mistake yesterday and I’m like three positions back.
“We probably don’t have a McLaren driver on the podium or whatever, so then all of a sudden you’re like, oh, it’s not as good as it looks.
“But I think we’re extracting everything we can out of the car, and when we do that, we’re here. But we’re on the right track.”
McLaren was arguably the best of the rest on multiple occasions last season, but Norris believes that many didn’t reckon the team could bridge the gap to Red Bull’s pace.
“The team has done such a good job for us to be standing here,” he said.
“Many people didn’t expect us to still be able to improve so much and to catch up with Red Bull.”
Still, Norris doesn’t think McLaren is “at [Red Bull’s] level just yet,” with some work still to be done, but is still overwhelmingly positive regarding the team’s prospects.
“As we saw today, they still have areas where they’re better and maybe some areas where we are better now, which is a good sign,” he said.
“But yeah, I think there’s going to be tracks where we can be stronger.
“I’m still looking forward to a couple of those tracks, but there’s going to be somewhere a little bit off still.
” So we’re working on those places and if we work and improve on them as much as we have the rest of the car, then I’m excited that we can definitely continue to fight them in more races.”
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