Norris Unveils McLaren's Strategy to Regain Title Momentum

Lando Norris is confident that McLaren can still mount a strong title defense when the Formula 1 season resumes at the Miami Grand Prix, despite the team's slow start to the new era. Norris, the reigning champion, has yet to record a podium finish in the first three races, but his teammate Oscar Piastri's second-place finish in Japan has given the team a boost. With nearly five weeks to work on their cars, Norris believes there is ample opportunity to turn their season around. "I think we can have a good season, even if we're not where we want to be right now," he said. "We still want to push hard for the championship; this isn't a case of giving up and focusing on next year." Norris trails early championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 47 points but remains optimistic, citing examples of the team's ability to recover from slow starts in previous seasons. Ensuring the reliability of their car and Mercedes power unit is a key area of focus for the team. "We're not in a terrible position, but we've definitely got to work to get back in contention for wins," Norris added. The team is using the break to address these issues, with time on the simulator and a tire test at the Nurburgring helping to fill the gap in their understanding. Piastri also expressed confidence in the team's ability to get back into regular victory contention, saying, "We have a lot of work to do to be back at the front consistently, but closing the gap to Mercedes and out-developing the field is something that's within our control."