Lando Norris: McLaren ‘struggling more than we would have liked’ with MCL39’s rear

Lando Norris has revealed that McLaren’s 2025 Formula 1 car is in the “same ballpark” as its title-winning predecessor, but with some minor rear-end instability to iron out.

Norris heads into the upcoming campaign touted as the leading bet to claim a maiden title having ended the previous season on top to hand McLaren the Constructors’ title.

The Briton delivered on that billing as pre-season testing began in Bahrain, heading the timesheets with a time that was over a tenth faster than Mercedes’ George Russell.

Norris has revealed that McLaren hasn’t experienced unexpected quirks with its new car, which he noted shared a resemblance to the MCL38 in both balance and handling.

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However, the multiple-time F1 race winner divulged that there were some occasional moments where the MCL39’s rear tended to step out more than he would have liked.

“It feels similar – that’s what I said in the interviews earlier. It feels similar, which is a good start,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week. “That’s where we wanted to start, at least.

“Nothing’s been majorly addressed. Let’s say it’s not like that much has changed from what we’ve tried to do – we’ve just tried to make the car quicker all around and add more load.

“It’s a very simple way of looking at it, honestly. We still want to try and focus on some areas more than others.

“Like you’re saying, we’ve struggled a bit more with the rear than what we would have liked over yesterday and today.

“But it’s still early days. We’re not looking at absolute outright performance.”

Norris not expecting vast McLaren gap

Norris admitted that McLaren would start to explore the MCL39’s limits more as testing progressed, which he hopes will ease the difficulties he has endured on the rear axle.

“If we went into qualifying now, I’m sure we would change some things,” he added. “But a lot of today and yesterday has been just ticking the boxes. It’s not the fun bit.

“The fun will come this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Along those lines, I think if we want to improve anything at the minute, it’s still the rear of the car.

“The more you can improve the rear, the more everything just gets better. But the rest of it feels correct and it feels like it’s in the same ballpark. That’s what we want.

Norris added that he is not anticipating the MCL38 to deliver a sizeable step, but one that will give him the base to be competing at the sharp end once the season begins.

“I don’t think we’re expecting to be a big step ahead of anyone,” he addressed.

“We’re expecting to be tied alongside the guys to my right [Ferrari and Red Bull]. But if we’re just there fighting from the beginning, that’s our target.

“Considering how the last few years have been, if we can just be there fighting from the off, then we’ll be happy.”

READ MORE – Lando Norris vows McLaren will avoid slow start to F1 2025