Norris: McLaren had the quickest car

Despite finishing second best at Catalunya, Lando Norris believes McLaren now has the “quickest car” in Formula 1.

Norris and the MCL38 again impressed at the Spanish Grand Prix, pushing Max Verstappen all the way, falling 2s following a late charge.

Despite Verstappen taking another win, it was a weekend where it was Norris’ McLaren that took both pole position and the fastest lap.

In qualifying the Brit snatched pole by 0.020s with a clutch lap at the end of Q3, while in the race his 1:11.383 was six tenths clear of the next best.

But with a poor start, Norris was always fighting off the back foot in the 66 lap affair.

Norris believed victory was possible because he believed McLaren had greater pace than the Red Bull, which has been utterly peerless since the change in regulations in 2022.

“Not could (have we won) should have done. I got a bad start, simple as that,” Norris said. 

“The car was incredible today. I think we were, for sure, the quickest. 

“I just lost it in the beginning and that kind of ruined everything. 

“But apart from that, a good amount of points and a big thanks to the team because the car was amazing.

“We had the best car. I had the best car out there and I didn’t maximise it.”

Going forward Norris can draw more confidence with Austria and Great Britain the next races where a batch of upgrades saw McLaren rise to being one of Red Bull’s biggest threats last year.

“I’m confident. every weekend we go into now,” he said.

“It’s a very different layout again. High speed, I think we have a bit to work on, comparing to Red Bull. They seem definitely a bit higher, better in high speed corners than we are. Potentially we’re lacking a touch in that area but the rest of it is strong. 

“It’s been one of my best tracks in terms of my own competitiveness and my most successful tracks so excited to see all the papaya and the grandstands and have a good weekend

“I think we’re still proving to be one of the most consistent teams at every track that we’ve been to.

“I think we just need to stay doing what we’re doing, because it’s good enough for the time being, but it’s just trying to eliminate a couple of those small, little mistakes.”

Image: Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

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