Norris: Austin Was a “Momentum Killer”

Lando Norris’s Formula 1 championship aspirations suffered a significant setback at the United States Grand Prix, which he described as a “momentum killer.” Prior to the Austin race weekend, Norris trailed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 52 points. However, instead of narrowing this gap, Norris fell further behind, losing an additional five points to the championship leader.

A controversial five-second penalty for an off-track overtake hampered Norris’s performance, pushing him from third place (ahead of Verstappen) to a position behind the reigning champion. Reflecting on the weekend, Norris acknowledged its negative impact on his title hopes but noted that McLaren hadn’t expected to dominate the race.

McLaren’s performance in Austin was notably weaker compared to recent races. The team struggled with the track’s unique characteristics, which included low-speed corners and windy conditions – factors that didn’t play to the strengths of their car. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella explained that their car performs better on tracks with medium-speed corners and less wind, such as Singapore, Zandvoort, and Hungary.

Adding to McLaren’s challenges was Ferrari’s strong showing. Ferrari had been consistently fast in recent races but managed to maximize their potential in Austin. This caught McLaren somewhat off guard, although Stella noted that Ferrari’s competitiveness wasn’t entirely unexpected given their recent performances.

Despite the disappointment in Austin, both Norris and Stella remain optimistic about upcoming races. McLaren has development upgrades planned, and Stella believes future circuits will better suit their car’s strengths. As the season progresses, McLaren aims to regain momentum and close the gap to their rivals, while Norris hopes to revive his championship aspirations in the remaining races.