McLaren star Lando Norris has delivered an upbeat assessment of his progress with the team's 2025 Formula 1 challenger, expressing growing confidence that he's finally mastering the car's complex characteristics ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix.
From Frustration to Confidence
The British racing driver, who has shown flashes of brilliance mixed with frustration throughout the season, now believes he's turning a corner. "I'm getting to grips with it," Norris declared in an exclusive interview. "There were moments earlier this year where I felt I wasn't extracting everything from the package, but now we're finding that sweet spot."
Technical Breakthroughs Paying Dividends
Norris highlighted several key areas where both driver and team have made significant progress:
- Braking stability: Improved confidence under heavy braking zones
- Corner entry: Better rotation and turn-in response
- Tyre management: Enhanced understanding of optimal operating windows
- Setup optimisation: More effective collaboration with engineering team
The 25-year-old emphasised that the relationship with his race engineer has become increasingly intuitive, allowing for quicker adjustments during practice sessions and races.
Championship Implications
With the F1 calendar reaching its critical phase, Norris's improved form couldn't come at a better time. The McLaren driver remains firmly in championship contention, though he maintains a pragmatic approach to the title fight.
"We're not getting ahead of ourselves," he cautioned. "The grid is incredibly tight this season, and one-tenth of a second can be the difference between pole position and starting sixth. But I feel we're moving in the right direction at the right time."
Team principal Andrea Stella echoed Norris's optimism, noting the symbiotic relationship between driver feedback and technical development has accelerated their progress in recent races.
