Norris says McLaren 'closer to perfection' after dominant Miami Sprint win
Photo: Race Pictures
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Lando Norris has said McLaren's MCL40 is working "significantly better" following his commanding Sprint win at the Miami GP. The world champion has so far had a slow start to the season as McLaren struggled to get to grips with their Mercedes power unit, but is confident the papaya team are driving at "closer limit to perfection."
Speaking at the post-Sprint press conference, Norris was asked whether it was McLaren's closing of the gap in their understanding of the power unit that has helped them turn things around.
Norris said: "No, I mean, it's just not so much the power unit at all, really. The power unit's been good all season, so I think we're getting the most out of that now, and we're doing the best job we have done from that side.
"The car is just clearly working significantly better, I think more consistent, more predictable in certain circumstances, which is a good thing in any speed or corner. So you're just able to kind of predict things better and then change things better from lap to lap.
"Before it was a bit more kind of yin and yang with how the car might handle. So now we can kind of I think consistently drive at a closer limit to perfection, and in the end of the day simply it's just more grip. The car's just got more downforce and working better and primarily the rear.
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"We've been struggling a lot with the rear the whole season so I think that's taken a good step forward and since the first lap in FP1 I just felt like I could hit the throttle pedal a bit more aggressively and that's always a good feeling."
Piastri also pleased with McLaren's 'step forward'
Photo: Race Pictures
Oscar Piastri, who finished just under four seconds behind his teammate Norris, was pleased with the "step forward" in McLaren's pace, but believes there is more to extract.
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Piastri said: "It was reasonable. I think, you know, clearly there was a little bit still to find and try and extract. But, yeah, as Lando said, you know, the car has been a really good step forward this weekend. And, yeah, to be able to have that kind of pace today and yesterday as well has been a welcome return to form, so now I've just got to try and keep it going, obviously, but good start to the weekend and good start to the day."
The McLarens, unlike their engine supplier Mercedes, were quick to get off the line in Miami. Piastri was similarly fast on launch against Kimi Antonelli at Suzuka last time out.
"Yeah, got myself ahead of Kimi, which was the plan, obviously, and yeah, then after that point, just tried to settle into the rhythm and That was good, but the other launches, the ones I've done, have been pretty good so far, so I'll try and keep it that way," Piastri concluded.
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