4
Formula 1 rookie Lando Norris has spoke of big changes he can see in how the McLaren team has approached the development of this season's car as opposed to other years. Norris makes the step up to race driver with the Woking team, making his debut in 2019 after spending last year as its reserve.
McLaren is keen to forge a path back up to the sharp end of the grid, as the once dominant team is suffering from an almost five-year podium drought. Its last podium came at the hands of Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.
Despite false hopes that they had improved in 2018 with a switch to Renault from Honda and a fifth place finish in Melbourne last year, they could only manage sixth overall in the constructors' standings.
"There's been quite a big change in the team and how they are approaching things, such as the work and development for next year," Norris told Autosport. "I think they are focusing on making 100 percent sure they know things that are going to be for the good, and not kind of like in 2018 and maybe end up not so good."
Norris, the 2017 Euro Formula 3 champion, joins the F1 grid after finishing second in the FIA Formula 2 championship in 2018 after a tight battle with fellow British rival and 2019 Williams debutant George Russell, hopes to beat teammate Carlos Sainz, who joins from Renault in 2019.
"My ideal aim is to beat Carlos at every race, and every qualifying session." Norris said. "That is an unrealistic goal to set at the moment but I will do the best job that I can and complete as much preparation as I can to be ready for it."
All fallen apart since Ron left.
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
45,666 comments on McLaren
17 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lando Norris
270,066 comments on McLaren 155 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about McLaren
Major Tom
Posts: 152
It will be interesting to see how Norris goes because its always been hard to gauge how good a driver Sainz is.