Lando Norris has rejected Fernando Alonso’s “silly” claim that McLaren is “overconfident” it will catch and pass Aston Martin before the end of the season.
Having scooped a double podium in Japan, McLaren now sits just 49 points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Martin with six rounds remaining.
Aston Martin has lost the early season momentum that enabled it to accrue six podium finishes in the opening eight races.
Until the Spanish Grand Prix in June, the British marque had held second place in the standings, with Alonso regularly proving to be Red Bull’s closest competitor.
However, Aston Martin’s lack of development and Lance Stroll’s inability to match the lofty heights of his team-mate has opened the door for the rapidly improving McLaren.
“Obviously, they have the momentum for sure. They’ve been quite fast, but maybe we can see ups and downs for everybody,” Alonso commented.
“They’ve been very strong before the August break, in Austria, and in Silverstone. They were close to being both on the podium at Silverstone and then, Zandvoort, we were on the podium and they struggled a little bit, so it’s good if they’re overconfident and let’s see if we can beat them.”
An eighth-place finish at Suzuka for Alonso added four points to the team’s season tally. Lance Stroll retired from the race after suffering an issue with his rear wing.
The result meant an almost 30-point swing in the championship in favour of the Woking-based outfit.
“Unless his maths is deteriorating, which it definitely isn’t…” Norris quipped. “Fernando is Fernando, he’s always gonna say things. He always makes himself look very good or makes other people look bad. He’s very good at that.
“I don’t think we’re overconfident in any way. I think we’re the last people who have ever been overconfident in saying anything. Especially myself, but I thought we were a lot more points behind.
“So for us to be 49 or 47 points, whatever it is with what six races still to go, with two cars performing well. For them, they have struggled to have two cars up there in Q3 and at the end of the race.
“I would say it’s silly for him to think the opposite. He’s a smart guy, he’s not silly in any way. I’m confident that we can do it just because if we can have more P2s, P3s and things, it’s possible.”
While Max Verstappen looks set to claim a third successive Drivers’ title over the course of the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix weekend, Norris doubts McLaren can upset the Dutchman’s party.
“Unless they have a Singapore style [weekend], which I don’t believe they will, so, yeah, unlikely,” Norris said of his team’s chances of beating Verstappen and Red Bull this weekend.
“I feel confident we can have another strong weekend. To the level of Japan? Tough to say. I feel like Mercedes could be quick this weekend, maybe Ferrari not quite as strong but our goal is to replicate what we did in Japan.
“I think after Japan, looking at the race pace, our pace is very strong even compared to Max. I finished 19 seconds behind, I probably lost eight minimum behind VSC to Sergio so we would have finished 10, 11, 12 seconds behind Max.
“I think that was pretty incredible for us, you know, to achieve such a thing. So our goal is to do the same this weekend, whether we can close the gap or it’s going to be bigger is difficult to say. Will it be a win? I don’t think so.”
