Lando Norris: Can McLaren driver win maiden F1 race in 2023 as he closes in on unwanted Formula 1 record

Lando Norris became the first McLaren driver since Jenson Button in 2011 to achieve four consecutive podium finishes with a second-place finish at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday.

Norris has become one of the most highly rated drivers on the grid in recent years and has largely maximized his car’s potential this season.

However, the 23-year-old is closing in on an unwanted record – most podium finishes without a win – as he finished in the top three for the twelfth time in his career, just one behind Nick Heidfeld, who holds the unfortunate record.

McLaren’s development was very impressive in 2023 as they jumped from the back of the midfield at the start of the season, with Norris creditably leading the United States Grand Prix until halfway through the race when Max Verstappen overtook him.

The car is especially strong on circuits with fast corners, such as Silverstone, Suzuka and the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

But with four events to go, Norris believes none of the circuits in Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi will play to McLaren’s strengths.

Requested by Sky Sports F1 If he can win a race this season, Norris replied: “Unlikely. Not the answer I want to tell myself or anyone else, but it’s unlikely. Qatar was our best chance. I think that’s why I was so hard on myself then, because I knew it was kind of our only chance.

“We have good tracks and bad tracks, but we just have very, very strong tracks. We still have some good tracks, I think, but not one where we think we can compete with the others.

“A few nice ones. Vegas is still a big question mark, but there are no high-speed circuits and that’s where we are very strong. That’s where we’ve always been strong and we’re almost on par with Red Bull in the high-speed corners. it’s just the slow speed that’s letting us down at the moment.

“We understand and know that this is our area that we need to focus on and improve on. If it comes together, probably not this year but next year, I think we can do some good things.”

Half of the 2023 F1 field have won a Grand Prix in their careers and the next new F1 race winner will be the 114th in the history of the championship.

Given the pace of the McLaren, Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri are favorites to be the next driver to take a maiden victory.

On Sunday, Verstappen asked Norris during the press conference why he does not rate his chances for Abu Dhabi higher, referring to the fast final sectors of the Yas Marina Circuit since changes were made to the circuit in 2021.

Norris replied: “Maybe Abu Dhabi, you never know. We will see. I don’t think there are any good ones ahead for us. I think our best performances are over.

I just want to be hopeful that we can get good results and I think we can still fight for podiums, but these guys (Red Bull and Mercedes) are too fast for me.

“I’d say on average they’ve been faster all weekend. We’ll almost keep that up in qualifying when we’ve got that new rubber and super fuel economy and stuff like that. We can look good, but realistically I think we are not yet.” That level is an overall package for these guys. So there aren’t any great ones coming up, but Vegas and Abu Dhabi are probably the better ones.”

Could Norris have won the United States GP?

Norris got the perfect start from second as he overtook Charles Leclerc off the line and pushed hard in an attempt to open a buffer over Hamilton and Verstappen, who were stuck behind the Ferraris.

The McLaren driver responded to an undermining threat from Verstappen in the first round of pit stops, but was overtaken by the three-time world champion and lost the lead on lap 28.

He fought hard to keep Hamilton at bay in the final stint by defending aggressively, including a hard kink at Turn 1, but lost the position. However, Hamilton was disqualified for failing the FIA ​​plank wear test, leaving Norris to inherit second place.

“I’m very pleased. If you had said before the weekend that we had the result we got… I wouldn’t have believed it, but in a way we didn’t expect it,” said Norris.

“I’m very happy. From leading a race until lap 25 or 30 almost, you always think ‘could I have done something more’. But when you see how much I struggled compared to Lewis, how many let’s say setbacks that Lewis had – two very bad pit stops, I had two very good pit stops, I didn’t have to go through the field.

“I was able to control him and have a perfect race, but we still didn’t have the pace, so no surprise there. I think we knew all weekend that we didn’t quite have what we wanted against them.

“We expected it. We’re still very happy with the progress we’ve made compared to where we were at the start of the season. Even for the team, they’re happy, but there’s still an element of ‘oh, we missed something’.

“I think you have to remind yourself of where we were and the progress we’ve made in a short time. I’m still excited because we know we have a lot more to offer. The team is doing an excellent job in every area and We’re getting closer.”

When can you only watch the Mexico City GP live on Sky Sports F1?

Thursday October 26
9 p.m.: Drivers’ press conference

Friday October 27
7 p.m.: Mexico City GP, practice one
8:45 PM: The F1 show
10:45 PM: GP of Mexico City, practice two (also on Sky Sports Main Event)

Saturday October 28
6.15 pm: GP practice three of Mexico City
9 p.m.: Mexico City GP qualifying build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
10 p.m.: Mexico City GP qualifying (also on Sky Sports Main Event)

Sunday October 29
6:30 PM: Grand Prix Sunday Mexico City GP build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
8 p.m.: The GRAND PRIZE OF MEXICO CITY (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
10 p.m.: Checkered flag: Mexico City GP

F1 heads straight to Mexico for the middle leg of the US triple header. Watch the entire Mexico City Grand Prix weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday, with Sunday’s race at 8pm. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW