Lando Norris has claimed it shouldn’t be forgotten where McLaren has come from amid criticism over numerous squandered opportunities in recent Formula 1 races.
McLaren challenging at the sharp end has become a consistent sight in the sport as Norris has now stood on the podium rostrum seven times in 12 rounds this term.
But while Norris has capitalised on McLaren’s inroads to log his maiden win in Miami, the Briton has been made to rue several missed chances to add to that triumph.
The Woking-based squad’s MCL38 car has emerged as a match to Red Bull’s RB20, but sluggish getaways or indecisive strategic choices have seen it come up short.
However, Norris has contended that it would be shortsighted to use McLaren’s recent success to neglect the troubles that the team encountered up until last summer.
Norris, who has accrued 102 more points at this stage than he did last term, believes McLaren’s unprecedented advances should also serve as motivation to the side.
“I think you have to look at the positives because I think we’re still, let’s say, fresh off consecutive bad seasons,” Norris said in Barcelona last month.
“So I think we definitely have to remind ourselves of how bad it’s been and the progress we’ve made. I think it’s easy to forget that very quickly.
“I think that’s good motivation for everyone is the knowledge of last year, how bad we were versus where we are now. I think that’s encouraging for everyone in the team.
“So reminding everyone of that, I think, is important. But at the same time, then everything is relative.
“Still, whether you’re fighting for first or 10th, when you have knowledge of you could have made better decisions, you could have potentially won a race, and the win means even more.
“When you’re fighting for 10th and it might be for ninth, then you’re like, OK, it’s one of two points.
“But when it’s second and you’re like, I should have won a race, you’re freaking winning a freaking race. So it hurts pretty more. But at the same time, encouraged, because having the knowledge of we should have won just kind of makes us more motivated to go into the next race weekend thinking to try and make up for the last one.”
Norris, though, has admitted that McLaren is at an inevitable disadvantage when it comes to its attempt to overhaul a well-oiled and seasoned operation like Red Bull.
“I think they’re a good enough team that even when they’ve been leading, they still generally always made the correct decisions,” he added regarding the F1 champions.
“So, whether they’ve been relaxed or not they’ve still always done a good job and made good decisions. So, for them I think it’s normal business for them.
“I think it’s for us. Things change a little bit and even people change a little bit when you’re fighting for a win or for a second.
“Your mentality, even when you try to not make it or allow it, your mentality is always going to change, you’re always going to feel a little bit more pressure, a bit more nerves.
“So, it’s more us having to step it up a little bit more than anything else.”
