Lando Norris believes McLaren can win more races in 2024 and will “100%” challenge for the constructors’ title next season after scoring a long-awaited breakthrough victory.
Norris’ impressive success at the Miami Grand Prix saw him become the 21st British driver in history to win an F1 race, ending a run of 110 grands prix and 15 podiums but no maiden win.
The 24-year-old took advantage of the safety car period to overtake Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to give McLaren its first win in almost three years and underline the British team’s further progress.
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Miami Grand Prix highlights as Norris becomes 21st British driver to win Formula 1 race
Norris is fourth in the drivers’ championship, 53 points behind three-time world champion Verstappen, while third-placed McLaren is 115 points behind dominant Red Bull in the constructors’ battle.
When asked if they could compete for the championship next season, Norris told Sky Sports F1: “100 per cent. I still speak with my feet on the ground. I want to believe we have two great drivers.
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Norris proved what a popular man he is, with many drivers quick to express how delighted they were that the Briton had secured his first Grand Prix victory
“We have a great team behind us and we are closer than ever.
“As I said at the beginning of the year we can win games, I should be confident that next year we can take the next step.”
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Karun Chandhok told the Sky Sports F1 Podcast that Norris’ positive mentality was a key factor in his maiden F1 win in Miami
“McLaren still has work to do”
Norris extended his stay in Miami to celebrate his first win and return to the McLaren Technical Center on Thursday to share the success with the wider team. He admitted they were still behind Red Bull and Ferrari but were confident of greater success this season.
“Of course we can win more games this year,” Norris said. “I think we can compete with Red Bull. I think we are having an exciting season between us, Red Bull and Ferrari.
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“I think we still have work to do and we’re not at the level they are yet. We’ll be competitive enough in some games, but on average we’re not where we want to be.
“I think we’re still grounded. We know we have more work to do, but once they all had a little drink this morning, I’m going to tell them to get back to work so we can keep fighting.”
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Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Natalie Pinkham reflected on Norris’ growth and development since his early days in the sport
Brown: McLaren ‘in the race’ for more wins
Norris’ victory in Miami last Sunday was the first since Australian Daniel Ricciardo’s two-two win at Monza in 2021, with Norris taking a McLaren The first win, and what CEO Zak Brown hopes will be just the first of many in the coming months.
“I don’t understand why we can’t fight to win,” Brown Tell Sky Sports. “It’s not easy. Red Bull still have the pace, it’s a race where we’re really into it, but we’ve been quicker than Ferrari in the last two races, so we’re close.
“We’re in the game. It shows that Red Bull can be beat and we intend to beat them and any other team a few more times this year, so I see no reason not to do that.”
Speaking about their title hopes for 2025, Brown added: “Next year will be an evolution of this year’s car, but we’re just a few tenths away from the title, so I definitely want to stay away from the title prediction.
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McLaren chief executive Zac Brown says “why not” Norris gets a tattoo to commemorate his first Formula 1 victory in Miami to match his tattoo of former McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo in 2021 A matching tattoo for the team’s first win.
I like the trajectory we’re on. I always say once you win one fight there’s no reason why you can’t win multiple fights and once you win multiple fights you can fight for the world title. The day is not far when we compete for the world championship.
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