McLaren’s Lando Norris Dashes Hopes Ahead of Las Vegas Showdown: “I Don’t Think We’ll Be Fast!”
As the Formula 1 circus shifts gears towards the glitzy streets of Las Vegas, McLaren’s star driver Lando Norris is voicing his concerns about the team’s performance, deeming the iconic circuit as their “worst track” for the upcoming season. With the buzz of anticipation echoing through the neon-lit Strip, Norris’s candid remarks serve as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for the papaya squad.
Following a thrilling weekend in Interlagos, where McLaren found some footing, the team now braces for one final American showdown. However, Norris’s outlook is anything but optimistic as he reflects on last year’s disheartening race results, where he finished a lackluster sixth and teammate Oscar Piastri trailed just behind in seventh. The Las Vegas Grand Prix could be a daunting test, especially compared to the recent successes in Mexico and Brazil, where McLaren emerged victorious.
Norris, who has been critical of his team’s pace on low downforce circuits, expressed his skepticism in a recent interview. “I think that was our worst race last year; I’m not looking forward to it and I’m not confident,” he stated bluntly. His admission highlights a broader concern within the team about their inability to match the speed of powerhouse rivals like Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. “We were the last of those four,” Norris added, underscoring McLaren’s struggle to compete at the highest level.
As the F1 community eagerly awaits the Las Vegas race, the contrast between Norris’s realistic expectations and the ambitions of team principal Andrea Stella could not be sharper. While Stella maintains that McLaren has made strides in performance, Norris remains grounded, acknowledging the fierce competition that awaits. “The Abu Dhabi and Qatar races are ones we’re looking forward to. I genuinely think we won’t be fast, but we’ll wait and see. I’m not saying I’ll finish tenth, but it’ll be tough to win. Last year, we were light-years behind,” he remarked.
With the championship battle primarily boiling down to an internal contest between Norris and Piastri, the pressure is on McLaren to deliver in Sin City. As the lights prepare to shine bright on the Las Vegas circuit, the question looms: Can McLaren defy the odds, or will Norris’s predictions come to fruition, leaving them in the dust of their competitors? All eyes will be on the papaya team as they attempt to navigate this challenging terrain and reclaim a spot among the elite.








