While the notion of immediately challenging Red Bull in the 2024 Formula 1 season might seem ambitious, Lando Norris is aiming to match the performance levels of Mercedes and Ferrari following his initial experience behind the wheel of McLaren’s MCL38.
At the unveiling of McLaren’s entry for the 2024 F1 season, Norris had the chance to test the car in a preliminary shakedown session at Silverstone, the iconic venue of the British Grand Prix.
Despite the chilly and wet conditions that prevailed at the track, these did not deter Norris’s enthusiasm as he familiarized himself with the vehicle that he and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, will be competing with in the upcoming season.
In a conversation with the official Formula 1 website post-MCL38’s shakedown, which allowed for a maximum of 200km of testing, Norris reflected on the team’s preparation for the F1 2024 season.
He expressed a sense of readiness that McLaren hasn’t felt “for the first time in a while,” as he ambitiously yet realistically aims to continue competing closely with Mercedes and Ferrari.
After evolving from one of the backmarkers in 2023 to securing regular podium finishes, with nine podiums by the season’s end and a sprint race victory in Qatar for Piastri, Norris is keen to maintain this momentum.
He aspires to keep pushing McLaren forward, aiming to bridge the gap to the frontrunners with their significantly updated vehicle.
Noris said, “Compared to the last few years, I think we’re in a much better position.”
“So good for myself, good for the whole team, just for the confidence, the motivation for everyone. You never want to go into a season not expecting to kind of do well, and I think for the first time in a while we’re coming in here just prepared as we should be as a Formula 1 team.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a lot of question marks, things we’ve got to try and understand, and so forth, but I’m looking forward to getting back to Bahrain and pushing it to the limit and really getting to see what we can achieve, but I’m excited.
“If we can at least start where we ended up and start in that battle for, I want to say first, I’m sure Red Bull is going to start off well, and I think if we can be in that battle with Ferrari, with Mercedes and maybe some others, and just be close, I’m confident we can go from there.”
