Lando Norris, a driver from Great Britain, achieved his first victory in Formula 1 in Miami, showcasing McLaren’s ability to win races. This success highlights that the engine is not the main issue for Mercedes’ difficulties. McLaren faced challenges last season with an underdeveloped car, but made significant improvements throughout the year, becoming a consistent competitor against Red Bull. In 2024, McLaren continued their progress with an upgrade package in Miami. Despite Mercedes’ optimism with their revamped W15, they were unable to keep up with the advancements of McLaren and Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton believes that McLaren’s success as a customer team of Mercedes proves the strength of the German brand’s engine. He acknowledges that McLaren’s engine technology has been consistently developed and performs well. However, Hamilton admits that Mercedes has not performed as well on the car side in recent years and they are working hard to correct this.
Hamilton began his Formula 1 career with McLaren in 2008 and had a strong debut season alongside reigning champion Fernando Alonso. Although he missed out on the championship, he found success in his second year. However, McLaren was unable to sustain a title challenge, and Hamilton left the team in 2012. McLaren went through a tough period with only one victory until Lando Norris’ win in Miami. Hamilton takes pride in seeing his former team back at the top and praises Norris and Oscar Piastri for their performances. He hopes that McLaren’s success will inspire Mercedes to close the gap and achieve if they do the right work. Hamilton has a personal connection with McLaren, as it was where he got his chance in Formula 1, and he is happy to see them succeed once again.
