Lando Norris: “Ferrari and Red Bull are a little faster than McLaren”

What is the current potential of the MCL36? While Formula 1 arrives this weekend in Florida for the Miami Grand Prix, McLaren steps forward with newfound confidence. The opening round of the 2022 Championship in Bahrain, with the arrival of the new technical regulations, turned into a long way of the cross for the British team which finished in 14th and 15th place. Since then, McLaren seems to have found solutions and the results are following. “ I think we can confidently say that we have a better car than the one we had in the first race of the season. Of course, it made us feel like we started from scratch to become heroes and turn things around, and I think we did. ", entrusts Lando Norris in a press conference before the Miami Grand Prix.

With a podium at Imola, the Briton achieved McLaren's best result this season. On the new Florida route, Lando Norris does not want to get excited. “ Honestly, I don't think we really know our rhythm. Maybe I don't expect a podium or a top 5. We know that Ferrari et Red Bull are a little faster than us. So as long as we're looking to score points, I think we can be happy. »

“Lando’s result in Imola is very encouraging”

His teammate, Daniel Ricciardo is counting on this new circuit to finally launch its season, after results that did not live up to expectations (14th in Bahrain, retirement in Saudi Arabia, 6th in Australia and 18th in Imola). “ The last race was very difficult for me after suffering damage on the first lap (crash with Sainz at the 1st turn (editor's note), but I bounce back harder and I'm ready to go. We still have a lot of improvements to make to the car, but Lando's result at Imola is very encouraging », Explains the Australian.

Always very comfortable in front of the American public, the McLaren driver was eager yesterday at a press conference to discover this new meeting on the Formula 1 Calendar. This track probably doesn't compare to anything we've done, at least so far this year, so it's hard to judge our level of competitiveness until we take a lap. But it'll be fun. I can't wait to get on the track. » After the first two Free Practice sessions, it's time to get down to business this evening with Qualifying starting at 22 p.m.

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