Lando Norris says McLaren unlocked the “key pieces” for success during the 2023 Formula 1 season, leaving him optimistic the team is now on the “right track”.
Having conceded it had missed development targets with its MCL60 car over the winter, McLaren opened the year battling to avoid Q1 exits and struggling to score points.
However, the introduction of a substantial upgrade package from the Austrian Grand Prix in July transformed the Woking-based squad into a regular front-running contender.
Norris and rookie team-mate Oscar Piastri accrued a total of nine podiums across the campaign to elevate McLaren up to fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship.
While Ferrari and Mercedes have openly admitted they will pursue new concepts, McLaren’s attempts to reign in Red Bull will be bolstered by building on an updated 2023 car that responded favourably to any further developments it added later on in the year.
Norris believes McLaren has plenty of areas to improve upon despite its remarkable mid-season turnaround but is buoyed by the team ensuring it is heading in the correct direction.
“For us to catch Mercedes, to catch Ferrari, in terms of pace, we’ve been behind them for two years,” Norris acknowledged. “They’ve not really taken any steps forward and we’ve taken a massive step forward with plenty more things we know we can improve on.
“So, I think it’s a good time for us. A few more bits of the puzzle to put together, but we found the key pieces, and we know what direction to go. Very proud of the whole team.
“If we were in Bahrain now, and we looked ahead, I’d be dreading the season already, so seven podiums, all the great moments we had, were definitely not expected, world record pit stop, the team have done an amazing job in so many areas – maybe not the weekend we wanted to end the season with [fifth place in Abu Dhabi] – but I‘m proud and we’re on the right track.”
After its lacklustre start to the season, McLaren announced in March that former Technical Director James Key would be departing the team with immediate effect.
Key’s exit coincided with confirmation it had secured the return of David Sanchez (Car Concept & Performance) from Ferrari, with the squad also capturing the signing of Red Bull’s Rob Marshall (Engineering & Design).
The pair will begin work at Woking in 2024 alongside Peter Prodromou as part of a new three-pronged technical structure that will report directly to team boss Andrea Stella.
Along with their joint arrival in January, McLaren’s 2024 challenger will be the first to utilise the team’s brand-new wind tunnel facility, heightening Norris’ hopes for 2024.
“I’m very excited,” Norris beamed. “If we had started this season how we were in the middle we would be P2 in the Constructors’ and P2 in the Drivers [Championship]. So I know it’s not that and it doesn’t always work like that, but we’re on the right track is what I’m trying to say.
“We have some new hirings and the guys coming in, they come in ‘24. So maybe not everything that they can bring to us we’re gonna have on the car straight away, but some things that we just already know now, I mean, we’ve learned already over the last four, five, sixth months from the progress we’ve made we’ve learned a lot.
He added: “So, yeah, I’m excited just because we’re finally on the right track and we know which direction to push and I just want to start the season off well, you know, if we can start well in Bahrain, then I’ll be a lot more excited.”
Of Norris’ seven podiums in 2023, six were second places and five of those came trailed Max Verstappen, who won a record-breaking 19 races out of 22 across the campaign.
Although the Briton admits it will be a challenge to become a credible contender to Red Bull, Norris is confident McLaren is close to being capable of achieving that feat.
“It’s clear like today [in Abu Dhabi], even [Sergio] Perez was, was so much quicker than us,” he stated. “Their car is phenomenal. Red Bull are doing an amazing job. They have done the last few years.
“So for anyone to catch them, it’s gonna be a tough step, they’re not just quicker in pace, they’re a lot better on degradation like they showed today and Max is one of the best drivers, so it’s a tough combination to beat.
“But I feel like we’re almost getting what we need to begin to challenge.”
