On the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, Lando Norris spoke about the improved feeling with his McLaren Formula 1 car, while also acknowledging that much work remains to be done.
Lando Norris and the McLaren F1 Team are preparing for a crucial weekend at Spa, which will once again feature the sprint race format. Weather forecasts suggest a high chance of rain during the event—conditions under which the British team has shown dominant pace this season. With championship points becoming increasingly valuable, the battle for the title is wide open.
Australian driver Oscar Piastri currently holds just an 8-point advantage over his McLaren teammate, and Lando Norris is enjoying a strong run of form. The British driver has secured back-to-back victories in the last two rounds, and he appears to have regained the confidence and connection with his car that he enjoyed during his strongest performances in previous seasons. Key to this resurgence is a revised front suspension system, along with consistent teamwork and off-track effort.
A New Feeling With the Car
Speaking to the media on Thursday ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Lando Norris explained the work he has put in to regain a good feeling with his McLaren MCL39. The focus, he said, has been primarily on one specific aspect: “My driving style. Yes, my own driving—how to drive the car, my ability to adapt to different driving styles, so to speak.”
“It’s also my job, in the end, to drive any car I’m given as quickly as possible. But I also dedicate time to areas outside the track, working closely with my team. I have an excellent group of people around me, and we focus on everything both on and off the track, especially on how I can best prepare for the race weekends.”
“We’re still working on helping me extract more performance from the car, to allow me to activate it more consistently, like I was able to last season,” he told various outlets, including F1inGenerale. “There are still areas where I need to work and improve, and I feel like I’ve made progress. It’s great that two victories have come. The most positive aspect from those weekends was having stronger pace from the beginning, and I felt more comfortable with the car, understanding how to extract the most pace from it.”
Recent On-Track Results
Thanks to his two consecutive wins, Lando Norris has closed the gap in the standings to Oscar Piastri. “I feel like I’ve climbed back a bit. I definitely feel happier and I think Austria was a weekend where I felt really good—maybe even more than at Silverstone.”
Beyond pure performance, Lando Norris pointed out a second key factor behind his recent success: improved morale. The mental side, he noted, has played a crucial role, giving him renewed motivation and clarity behind the wheel. It remains to be seen whether the British driver and the McLaren team can continue their positive streak this weekend at the iconic Spa circuit.
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