F1 News

Lando Norris' expectations for Spanish Grand Prix and Red Bull Praise

This is how Lando Norris expects McLaren to perform in Barcelona

21 June at 11:38
  • Toby Nixon

Lando Norris has consistently been battling for race wins and podiums this season. The Brit secured his first win in Miami earlier this season and currently sits in third place in the driver's standings. On media day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the McLaren driver revealed what his expectations are for himself and his team this weekend. Norris is expecting a close battle with multiple teams at the Spanish Grand Prix.    

How McLaren have improved

"I mean we've been good at all of them so far, so I don't expect things to probably change too much. I just expect it to be close between Ferrari, and Red Bull will probably be a bit more back to where they should be," Norris said on Thursday in Barcelona.

"Ferrari after last weekend will be more back to where they should be. I think we've been the most consistently just ‘their’ team. We've not been the team which has suddenly been quickest and easily dominating a weekend like we've seen Red Bull or Ferrari do. We've not had that absolute strength in certain places, but we've just been a very good all-rounder so far which, over the course of a season, is exactly what we want and is a good strength from where we were last year where we were very up and down." The Brit said. Norris has already secured four podiums so far this season.

Why Norris expects a 'close fight' between the top teams in Barcelona

The McLaren MCL38 is a top contender in F1 this season and has already triumphed in one race so far. Norris, however, remains realistic with the performance of the car. He believes that this weekend will provide good racing between multiple teams.

"At no point, I would say, we've been the outright absolute best through a whole weekend. So that's something we still need to work on and we still need to work to have a quicker car. With Mercedes and stuff joining and how close it was already in Canada, whether you're a tenth better or not, that's easily because you haven't got the tyres in the right window or you make a small mistake or the setup's not perfect. Half a tenth, one-tenth, and you're three, four, five positions back. I think it's just going to be a close fight between everyone, but the main thing is we've been good everywhere so far, so I think we have good confidence that we just keep doing what we're doing. We can maintain a good consistency," concluded Norris. The McLaren driver will be fighting for his fifth podium of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix.