Alarm bells ringing at McLaren: Bleak forecast from Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris

Lando Norris is set to line up in his McLaren with the number 1 this year, but the champion currently sits only sixth in the World Championship standings. He finished fourth in the most recent race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, having stormed from fifth on the grid. Victory was out of reach, and the ambitious 26-year-old is consequently not holding out much hope for the next race in Texas either.

Asked about his prospects for the US Grand Prix, which will take place in a week’s time at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Norris said: “The car just isn’t fast enough, and it’s very tricky to drive. We’re a long way off the front.”

Lando Norris: Driving is mentally exhausting

And the 13-time Grand Prix winner described: “It’s simply on a knife-edge, in every single corner. You have to manoeuvre it within exactly one per cent, and you have to force it to do what you want. You can’t just rely on the front or the rear. You have to force everything, and that requires so much concentration and skill that driving it is mentally exhausting.”

“It’s simply too difficult, and therefore impossible, to put in good laps in qualifying. That shows just how strong we were when we secured pole position and other good results. And it’s easy to understand how satisfying that felt. But when the speed isn’t there, it’s simply too difficult, and you can’t pull anything out of a hat because you’re simply not fast enough,” added the defending champion with a sigh.

Topic of the week

Topic of the week: MotoGP’s new schedule proved highly controversial

In 2027, MotoGP will also enter the 850cc era with a new schedule. It was not so much the changes themselves as the way the decisions were reached that caused a stir. A prime example of: ‘Talking helps’.

Thomas Kuttruf

Read More

TV Program

Live

Austin: 1. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

23.10.2026 - 19:25