F1 News

Norris: Nobody knows how well McLaren will perform

Norris: Nobody knows how well McLaren will perform

09-01-2019 17:00
Author profile picture

Bobby Vincent

Lando Norris has admitted that nobody really knows how well McLaren will perform in 2019, as he prepares for his rookie season in the sport.

McLaren will drive with a brand-new driver line-up in 2019, with Norris joining Carlos Sainz Jr. for the British side.

The Woking-based team had goals of trying to break into the top three of Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari in 2018, but the campaign was disrupted by reliability issues with their engine throughout the season; and they ended up finishing in P6 in the constructors' championship.

When asked by Autosport if he thinks they can improve both on and off the track, Norris replied: "That's a difficult one, no-one knows. They have decent ideas of things they are working on, bits they are trying to improve, all these little things that you'll say they've had lots of data to say is better.

"Things can always change, sometimes it looks good in the wind tunnel, on the aero mapping or whatever, and you get to the track and it does something slightly different to what you expect.

"Of course they are confident they are making the right changes. There's been quite a big change in the team and how they are approaching things, approaching the work for next year, the development.

"I think they're focusing on making 100% sure they know things are going to be for the good, and not kind of like (2018) and maybe not end up so good."