McLaren’s season has been extensively altered if compared to the beginning of the season, as the star driver, Lando Norris has gone on to achieve back-to-back podium finishes for the first time in his career before the summer break. Norris finished second at Silverstone and in Hungary, with a technical revamp of the car paying dividends to propel the young English driver up the field.
The efforts made by the team and young drivers have been noticed by the top drivers too. Recently, two-time world champion Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez praised Lando Norris.
Max Verstappen hails McLaren’s Lando Norris
Max Verstappen said that he was impressed with the progress that Lando Norris and McLaren had made in recent races. He said that he expected to see Norris on the podium more often in the future.
Verstappen specifically mentioned Norris’s performance in the Spanish Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix. He said that Norris had been strong on both tracks, which have very different layouts. Verstappen also said that McLaren had done an “incredible job” in developing their car.
Verstappen was also asked about the 23-year-old’s recent surge, stating, “First and foremost, I think it’s quite incredible to see where they were in Bahrain and where they are now, McLaren.”
“However, this comes as no surprise to me. It’s simply nice to see that when you have a capable car, you can do a decent job, and he’s here in P2 twice. It doesn’t even require a number.”
Max Verstappen says he has been impressed with #McLaren and Lando Norris 🤝
“First of all, I think it’s quite incredible to see where they were in Bahrain and where they are now, McLaren. But I think Lando has done extremely well…”#F1 #Formula1 #RedBull #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/ukKs6kbzUN
— McLaren F1 News 🏴🇦🇺 (@TheMcLarenZone) August 11, 2023
Verstappen’s comments may be a sign for Norris and McLaren. They show that Verstappen is taking notice of Norris’s performance and that he expects Norris to be a contender for podiums in the future
Lando Norris’ incredible performances this year
The McLaren F1 Team entered the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship with high aspirations and objectives, but they quickly fell to the rear of the pack. McLaren was able to claw their way back from a poor start to the season, and are now one of the teams vying for podiums and possibly a surprise win.
Their young talent Lando Norris replaced Daniel Ricciardo as the team’s primary driver for the 2023 season. Norris built a name for himself in previous seasons with his steady performances and excellent pace, and he is expected to lead the team’s drive and achieve strong results.
The Brit managed to secure two back-to-back podium finishes in Silverstone and the Hungaroring, further proving his ability to be a world championship contender in a better car. His experience played a crucial role in guiding the team’s development.
What do you think about Norris’s performance till now? Do let us know your views on McLaren’s future this season.
