Lando Norris believes that if McLaren clinches the 2024 Constructors’ Championship in Abu Dhabi, it will resonate on a deeper level for the team than it would for rivals like Ferrari or Red Bull. For Norris, McLaren’s journey from hardship to championship contention has been a testament to perseverance and resilience.
McLaren’s Painful Journey to Redemption
The Woking-based squad is on the brink of ending its 25-year Constructors’ Championship drought, heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a 21-point lead over Ferrari. For Norris, the magnitude of this potential triumph stems from the team’s turbulent past.
“The teams we’re racing against — Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes — none of them have been through the pain that we have in the last six years,” Norris said. “So I think it will mean more to us than anyone else.”
Reflecting on McLaren’s struggles, Norris acknowledged that the team’s decline was self-inflicted but argued that the journey back to the top makes the prospect of victory even sweeter.
“We’ve had to come from a lot lower down than where they have, which is our own fault. It’s our own doing; we’ve not been good enough back then. But it makes the story cooler than being at the front the whole time and eventually winning it.”
Pressure Mounts but McLaren Stays Focused
Despite the high stakes, Norris emphasized that McLaren isn’t changing its approach heading into the season finale. He praised the team for its consistent performance and its ability to handle mounting external pressure.
“There’s been pressure the whole season to perform and to do well. Nothing should change, nothing needs to change. The job we’ve been doing is very good. I’m proud of the whole team.”
Norris, however, conceded that McLaren may not be as competitive at Yas Marina Circuit as it was in Qatar, where the team had a golden opportunity to strengthen its grip on the championship. A penalty for speeding under yellow flags cost Norris a crucial second-place finish last weekend.
“It’s not been our best track in the past,” Norris admitted. “I think it will be a tight fight between all four teams this weekend. I don’t expect any one of us to be much further ahead.”
The Stakes at Yas Marina
McLaren’s rivals include Ferrari, which has staged a late-season resurgence, and perennial powerhouses Red Bull and Mercedes. Norris acknowledged the unpredictability of the title showdown, with four teams capable of winning on Sunday.
“We have four teams that can win it. We’re confident we can do a good job and execute things well, but I have no idea if we’ll be at the front of those four or at the back of the four.”
A Potentially Historic Weekend
If Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri can deliver the 24 points McLaren needs to secure the Constructors’ Championship, it will mark the team’s first title since 1998 and cement McLaren’s return to the top tier of Formula 1.
For Norris, this would not just be a victory but a validation of McLaren’s painstaking efforts to rebuild its legacy.
“It’s very, very cool to be a part of McLaren. To hopefully be part of that next chapter of McLaren’s history is very exciting.”