Norris struggles with car despite 'biggest upgrade in five years'

McLaren started 2023 badly, but has found its way back since the Austrian Grand Prix. The great upgrade package has brought Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to the forefront in the last few races, but Norris is still experiencing difficulties.

So says the Briton to F1.com. Although the MCL60 is a lot faster in all areas, Norris is struggling to drive the car. Norris: "The upgrade we brought to Austria is the biggest upgrade McLaren as a team have brought in the last five years. In terms of having a car, making improvement to it, it’s the biggest improvement we’ve had in my five years of being at McLaren, that’s a fact."

Norris is therefore very happy, saying, "It’s the first time we’ve been able to bring an upgrade that’s taken us a big step forward, so I have more hope than I have had over the last few years." Still, things are not entirely positive at Norris and McLaren. Norris: "For me at the minute, even with this upgrade we’ve had, the performance of driving the car, the handling has not got any better."

This is bad, as it is possible that Norris has lost control of his car a bit due to the improvements. Oscar Piastri has been on his feet in recent races, so to speak, and put in a great and stronger performance than his teammate in Belgium. At McLaren, it also happened to Daniel Ricciardo in previous times. The Australian struggled to keep the car in check, while Norris went like a rocket.

Norris: "It’s difficult to drive, it’s difficult to execute qualifying laps with. In essence it is to say it is slightly easier because given a mistake, we’re just higher up there as we have been the last few weekends." The gap to the backrunners has been enlarged, but there is still a big gap to the front for McLaren. In any case, Norris would prefer to see the MCL60's drivability improve next.