McLaren's Lando Norris has voiced significant concerns about his team's prospects at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, stating the cold conditions will definitely "hinder" their performance despite his current championship advantage.
Championship Battle Heats Up Amid Vegas Concerns
The British driver holds a 24-point lead over teammate Oscar Piastri following back-to-back victories in Mexico and Brazil. With only three races remaining and 83 points still available, every position becomes crucial in the title fight. Max Verstappen, pursuing an unlikely fifth consecutive championship, trails Norris by 49 points.
However, Norris's confidence takes a hit when discussing the Las Vegas circuit. "Hinder, for sure," he responded when asked about the venue's impact on McLaren. "I think it was our worst race last year, so I'm not really looking forward to it."
McLaren's Vegas Struggles and Temperature Challenges
The papaya-coloured team has encountered significant difficulties in Las Vegas during the event's first two years. Norris crashed out early in the 2023 inaugural race and could only manage sixth position last year, on the same weekend Verstappen secured his fourth world championship.
The fundamental issue lies in the unique conditions of the Las Vegas street circuit. With temperatures expected to drop to around 12°C during the night race, the MCL39 historically struggles in cooler conditions. Meanwhile, rivals like Mercedes – who achieved a one-two finish with George Russell leading last year – typically excel in lower temperatures.
"We've been trying to work quite hard on improving those things," Norris acknowledged. "We know Mercedes were incredibly strong there last year, as well as Red Bull and Ferraris. I think we were the bottom of those four."
Team Principal Remains Optimistic Despite Challenges
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella offers a more hopeful perspective, suggesting that thorough analysis after last year's disappointing performance has provided clear direction for improvement.
"Vegas last year was one of the most difficult races," the Italian admitted. "We had difficulties with the behaviour of the tyres in qualifying because we were not fast, and behaviour of the tyres in the race because we had a lot of graining."
Stella detailed additional aerodynamic issues and setup challenges that plagued the team last November. However, he emphasised that comprehensive reviews have identified specific areas for enhancement, particularly regarding tyre management, aerodynamic efficiency, and car setup.
"The review from Vegas last year gave us a lot of information to try and find a way to improve," Stella confirmed. "We know in which direction we should change compared to last year. Will it be enough to be competitive now? We will only see it in Vegas."
Norris maintains some optimism despite his concerns, noting: "Obviously, we've improved a lot of things this year, so I'm not going to be too negative about it. We know Abu Dhabi and Qatar are ones we are looking forward to. Las Vegas just a little bit less."
The Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place from 21-23 November, with the race scheduled for 4am GMT on Sunday morning (10pm local time Saturday).
