Despite strong practice form, McLaren remains cautious as Red Bull and Verstappen continue to challenge their apparent rise to the top.
Lando Norris is urging caution when it comes to claims that McLaren has overtaken Red Bull as the team to beat in Formula 1. Despite a strong qualifying showing and solid pace throughout the weekend, the British driver believes the gap to Max Verstappen and Red Bull isn’t as big as it may seem.
“I’m not sure why everyone’s acting so surprised,” Norris said after the race. “Red Bull is just as quick as we are in most sessions, and just as fast in the race.”
He pointed out that McLaren tends to show its pace earlier in the weekend, which may skew public perception. “We usually hit the ground running on Friday, while others leave more in reserve. That doesn’t mean we’re suddenly miles ahead—it’s just how we operate.”
And he’s not buying into the hype. “Just because we’re fast in practice doesn’t mean people need to start talking nonsense. They can say what they want—we know where we stand. Honestly, if Max didn’t have that five-second penalty, he probably would’ve been ahead. So, yeah, there’s still work to do.”
Norris emphasized that McLaren isn’t running away with anything. “Sure, on average, we might be the fastest team right now—but it’s not by much, and it’s far from dominance.”
Teammate Oscar Piastri echoed a similar sentiment. He felt McLaren had strong race pace but didn’t expect Verstappen to be such a threat during the Grand Prix.
“Our car was definitely quick,” Piastri said, “but I was surprised by how close Max was, especially in the race. I didn’t expect to struggle so much on the medium tyres at the end of that stint.”
He added that while Verstappen’s speed over one lap wasn’t a shock, the race pace told a different story. “This circuit, compared to Suzuka, is probably the closest in terms of layout. And in both places, Red Bull has been right there with us.”
Still, Piastri remains optimistic. “We’ve got a great car, no doubt. Maybe our advantage isn’t as big on tracks like this, but we’re in a strong position overall.”
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Piastri surprised as Verstappen keeps McLaren honest Piastri surprised as Verstappen keeps McLaren honest
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