Norris warns McLaren upgrades could make ‘horrible’ car even harder to drive
Photo: Race Pictures
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Lando Norris has warned that McLaren’s latest upgrades could make the car even more difficult to drive, as the team attempt to reclaim third place in the constructors’ championship from Red Bull.
McLaren have brought changes to the front wing, rear wing and floor to Interlagos, hoping to reverse their recent slide in the competitive order. However, Norris is cautious about whether the additional performance will come with more predictable handling.
Speaking ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the Briton explained that a quicker car would not necessarily be an easier one to push to the limit.
“I don’t know if it’s going to make it easier to drive. It could even make it harder to drive, but hopefully the performance takes a step forward,” Norris said in Brazil. “So maybe then you can adjust some things to potentially make it more consistent.”
Norris’s handling concerns are nothing new
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McLaren’s difficulties have persisted despite Norris winning in Hungary and Zandvoort over the summer. While those results briefly restored the team to winning form, their rivals have since made greater progress.
The distinction between outright speed and usable performance has been a recurring concern for Norris. As GPblog previously reported after qualifying in Austin, he described the MCL40 as “probably the hardest car I’ve ever had to drive in my life”, despite believing it had been quick enough for a front-row start.
That leaves McLaren with two challenges: finding more performance and ensuring Norris and Oscar Piastri can consistently extract it.
McLaren’s Brazil package also offers a glimpse of 2027
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The latest developments are intended to deliver an immediate benefit rather than simply serve as experiments for next season.
As GPblog reported when detailing McLaren’s Brazil upgrade plans, the package covers both wings and several floor components. The front-wing concept is also expected to carry over to the team’s 2027 launch specification.
“The season isn’t over yet: these upgrades are designed to improve the car now and help us in our fight for third in the championship,” chief technical officer for aerodynamics Peter Prodromou explained.
Leonardo Fornaroli will take Piastri’s place in FP1, giving McLaren another opportunity to evaluate the new components before the Australian returns for second practice.
Red Bull leave McLaren chasing
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McLaren arrive in Brazil 17 points behind Red Bull, with four grands prix remaining. The momentum has shifted considerably. GPblog previously covered how Red Bull erased McLaren’s advantage and moved ahead on countback in Austin, before extending their lead in Mexico.
Interlagos now offers McLaren an opportunity to respond at a circuit where Norris won last season. The question is whether the new parts can deliver the speed they need without making an already demanding car even less forgiving.
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