The recent surge in form by McLaren has been hailed as one of the greatest mid-season turnarounds in F1 history. They went from fighting outside the points to fighting for podium positions seemingly overnight. Fans of the team based in Woking are extremely happy with their form. But the team’s drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and team boss Zak Brown are happier.
McLaren under the current regulations
In February 2022, it was revealed that Lando Norris would be driving for McLaren till at least 2025. 2022 started as a horror show for the Woking team, with both drivers struggling with the car. They picked up the pace, challenging Alpine all year long for the 4th spot in the F1 Constructor’s championship. They eventually finished fifth, but mainly because of a misfiring Aussie in their lineup.
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McLaren were hoping for a better start to 2023. They had a new Aussie in the car, Oscar Piastri, who they poached from Alpine. But the MCL60 proved to be even more off the pace. The team, having taken the wrong development direction, were waiting for their upgrades in Austria. Team Bosses Zak Brown and Andrea Stella had talked them up. Team Representative and 2-time F1 world champion, Mika Hakkinen claimed the upgrades would propel McLaren near the top.
While people laughed him off, they soon had to bite their words as McLaren achieved podium after podium since receiving their upgrades. Lando Norris briefly led the British Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri, in his rookie season, led the Belgian Sprint race for a few laps as well. They have managed to jump to 5th in the constructor’s championship. They are now hunting down the likes of Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
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Lando Norris’ future with the team
Lando Norris has been with McLaren since before his F1 days. He has showcased his love for the team on multiple occasions. His loyalty has been put to the test multiple times in his short career already. Multiple top teams, including Red Bull, have tried to take him away from McLaren. But the Brit has stayed on, wanting to build a team around himself and take them to the top.
Lando admits doubts crept in his mind about his future with the team. However, those thoughts have vanished since their revival. He assured his fans that he wants to stay at McLaren. He wants to win races with them, win championships as well. The revival of the team has given him renewed hope and justified his decision to stay here. He wants to be the hero for McLaren.
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