McLaren needs “a little more” in order to compete with Mercedes, according to Norris
Returning empty-handed from Miami, McLaren must focus on improving their MCL36 before the next Grand Prix in Barcelona. According to Lando Norris, the Woking team needs a little more to be able to compete with Mercedes.
The start of McLaren’s 2022 season is anything but smooth sailing. The Woking team has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions since the disappointment in Bahrain (zero points) to Norris’ podium at Imola. However, in Miami, the MCL36s were unable to replicate the impressive result achieved in Emilia-Romagna, as for the second time this season, neither of the two drivers finished in the points.
Lando Norris had to retire after a clash with Pierre Gasly, and Daniel Ricciardo finished the race in a anonymous 13th place after receiving a 5-second penalty after the race. A disappointment for McLaren, who retains their fourth place in the constructors’ standings (46 points), far behind Mercedes (95 points) and just ahead of Alfa Romeo (31 points).
For Lando Norris, a few improvements are needed in the MCL36 to be able to compete in races with the Silver Arrows and Valterri Bottas’ C42.
Hopefuly we can just make a few additional improvements to the car. It’s difficult to know exactly what we’re going to do starting from this weekend. We are behind Mercedes. We are behind Alfa Romeo. But we are in a good fight with Alpine and AlphaTauri. Haas is there with us too. So it’s close. I think that puts us around fifth or sixth place. explains the young Briton.
(N) We have a good pace. We just need a little more to be able to compete with Mercedes and the guys in front. And we will be happy if we do so.” Norris concluded.
McLaren is one of the mysteries of the season with a very fluctuating form depending on the circuits. After scoring zero points in Bahrain, the team picked up steam by scoring 6 points in Jeddah (Norris finishing 7th) and then 18 in Melbourne (Norris 5th and Ricciardo 6th) before making a big move in Imola (Norris on the podium). However, in Miami, the return to earth was somewhat difficult for the fourth-placed team in the previous constructor’s championship.
But in a year where development plays a crucial role, all hopes will be allowed for the rest of the season. Provided that we bring “a little more”, as Lando Norris so aptly puts it.
