Norris hopes McLaren upgrades can help him adapt to '25 car

While admitting he needs to do a better job of adapting to McLaren’s 2025 car, Lando Norris hopes updates planned for upcoming races could suit his driving style more.

Oscar Piastri took the championship lead from Norris with victory in Saudi Arabia, with the Australian securing his third win of the season to his teammate’s one. Norris admits he has been struggling to feel comfortable in the McLaren this year despite winning the season opener in Melbourne, but doesn’t believe it’s necessarily the case that the car is more suited to Piastri.

“I think there are just certain things which don’t allow me to feel what I need to feel and those things are what allow me to drive to the level that I can drive at — to get pole positions and to drive at the highest level in racing,” Norris said. “We’re talking about small things. It’s not like it’s impossible to drive all of a sudden. It’s just when we’re talking about qualifying split by hundredths of a second, thousandths of a second, that’s what I’m complaining of and nothing more than that.

“It’s not one I can probably just give you a yes or no answer to . I think he’s maybe more naturally able to adapt. I also think it’s a driver’s job to adapt to whatever car they get given, but there are compromises, and the team are also there to try and help you get the most out of the car.

“But it’s clear there have been some changes and whether it’s just suited Oscar, or him doing a better job at adapting, that’s not for me to know or try and figure out or waste my time on. But it’s also hurt me a little bit more and I’ve not been able to perform at the level that I was at the end of last season, which I think is the best level that I’ve been.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has suggested future upgrades will target making the car more compliant for the drivers, and Norris believes that could bring it more to his liking moving forward.

“I certainly think it will help. I honestly don’t know the exact timeline of things,” Norris said. “There’s also a mixture of things that will slowly come and be implemented over time.

“But I also don’t want to rely on that myself. There are things I’m working on separately, and hopefully that’s a better fix than waiting for other bits to come. But it’s good we’re working as a team and trying to understand these things. It’s been clear that there have been differences from last year in how the car works, how it acts, and how I’m able to get lap time out of it and perform.

“So, a mixture of things. I have to be a little patient with some things – some are bigger than others – but it takes time. So I just keep my head down and keep pushing myself.”

Norris is returning to the scene of his first victory in F1, secured a year ago in Miami, but is downplaying the potential significance of the venue when it comes to his confidence this weekend.

“No , but it’s good memories, right? It’s stuff I dreamed of as a kid – winning and standing on the top step – and I managed to do it here, which was a cool place to do it,” he said. “Thinking back to the race, checkered flag, seeing the team celebrations – a lot of things that always bring a smile to my face. So the plan is to try and do it again.”