Lando Norris believes McLaren are “three months behind” in car development as they bid to get back to the front of Formula 1.The reigning two-time constructors’ champions already appear hard pressed to make it a hat-trick of consecutive crowns this year, given they trail leaders Mercedes – winners of seven of the season’s first eight races – by 143 points.
Like all the leading teams, McLaren have regularly introduced update packages, of varying scale, to their car so far this season with two more revisions brought to the track at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix – although the team did not use one of them, their version of Ferrari’s ‘Macarena’ rotating rear wing.
But speaking on media day at the start of the Spielberg event, world champion Norris said overhauling their rivals was a longer process than the impact of single race upgrades.”One good upgrade, no [is not enough],” said Norris, who is fifth in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
“We need three, four, five, but it depends. Sometimes you take one little piece at a time, sometimes you try and make something so everything goes together because it’s a new philosophy.
“We’re like two, three months behind. That’s not one upgrade; that’s a lot of bits.
“I don’t think we’re going to be quickest anytime soon but hopefully over the next three, four, five months we can catch up and we can narrow the gap to be on pace with them.”
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Highlights from the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix
McLaren proved their ability to make significant in-season ground during the last era of regulations and Norris added: “To catch up takes a huge effort from the team, which they’re doing. Everyone is very excited and motivated because we know it’s possible.”We’re like three months behind and that’s a hard task to overcome but everyone in McLaren knows that we can achieve that and we’re excited to try and do it.”‘We want to be that team’ – McLaren target Mercedes to emulate Verstappen title comebackNorris and team-mate Oscar Piastri were dominating the championship this time last year but have just two podium finishes apiece to show for the first eight weekends of the sport’s new rules era this year.Piastri finished fourth with Norris seventh last Sunday in Austria,…
2026-06-30 17:00:00
