Lando Norris has openly expressed his doubts about whether McLaren will be able to sort out a lingering problem with his car that is sapping straight‑line pace as the team heads into the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. The British driver, who has enjoyed a strong first half of the season – collecting three pole positions and two race wins across the four events that bracketed the summer hiatus – has seen his form dip dramatically in the two races that followed the break, in Azerbaijan and in Malaysia. In both of those outings Norris could only manage a fifth‑place qualifying position. In Baku his race ended prematurely after he was caught up in a collision that forced his retirement, while in the Malaysian round – technically the Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Sepang International Circuit – he finished ninth after a race riddled with mistakes and a noticeable lack of speed compared with his teammate Oscar Piastri.
The performance gap was especially evident on the long straights of Sepang, where Norris was consistently slower, prompting speculation that the car’s aerodynamic balance or power unit output was not delivering the expected performance. When asked by Sky Sports F1 whether the team would have the issue resolved in time for the upcoming Sprint race in Singapore, Norris gave a candid response: "I have no idea.
The team are trying but I'm losing almost two tenths a lap. Two tenths a lap over 55 laps is just painful as hell. It's making my life pretty damn difficult." He went on to acknowledge that the problem was not the sole factor behind his recent struggles.
"In Malaysia I could have done better. I can't just have that. That's not just an excuse," he added, emphasizing that both driver and team needed to improve.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has also weighed in, noting that while McLaren appeared to be back in contention after a successful upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix – which gave Norris the team’s first pole and win of the season – the rapid development pace of rival outfits may have outstripped McLaren’s own progress. Stella said, "We see a scenario in Formula 1 which seems to be changing pretty rapidly. In Hungary we took some upgrades, and we were in condition to have a pole position in Hungary and Zandvoort and then we were in condition to do pole position and pretty much victory in Madrid without the Virtual Safety Car. Then very rapidly and interestingly, as we took upgrades as well, the picture changes.
I think we have to take a look at our own development. We don't see any anomaly in our data, but we have to acknowledge that potentially some competitors have developed their car with bigger steps than we did." The challenges faced in Malaysia were compounded by unusually high ambient temperatures and a rough track surface, conditions that can dramatically affect tyre wear, brake temperatures and aerodynamic efficiency. Stella suggested that these unique factors might have amplified the car’s deficiencies, and he expressed cautious optimism that the tighter, more twisty layout of the Singapore street circuit could mitigate some of the straight‑line shortcomings. "There are very specific conditions in Malaysia, so I think we should give ourselves more time," he said.
"I'm sure this is the same kind of review that we'll have next door at Mercedes. It's a very special condition in Malaysia, so I think we have to understand better the behaviour of the cars.
I think we need to give ourselves some more time. I'm personally not in a position to say if Singapore will be now more suitable or not, because from a track layout point of view, we thought that Sepang would be a decent circuit for us. This is because of the uncertainty caused by the new scenario from a competitiveness point of view, but also because we might have to understand a bit better the upgrades that we took ourselves, and Singapore will give us a better answer." The Singapore Grand Prix will mark the final Sprint weekend of the 2024 Formula 1 season, with the sprint race slated to start on Friday. The street circuit, known for its high‑downforce demands, tight corners and short straights, could potentially play to McLaren’s strengths if the team can extract more aerodynamic grip and minimise the power loss that has plagued Norris in recent weeks.
However, the margin of improvement required is significant – losing two‑tenths of a second per lap over a 55‑lap sprint translates to roughly 11 seconds, a gap that is difficult to close without a clear technical solution. In the broader context, McLaren’s rivals have been busy. Mercedes driver George Russell secured a dominant victory in Baku, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen continued to showcase the team’s pace with a win in Malaysia. Both performances underline the competitive pressure McLaren faces as it attempts to keep pace with the front‑running manufacturers.
Looking ahead, Norris’s outlook remains pragmatic. He acknowledges that both driver input and team engineering must improve: "There are things I can do better and the team as well." This admission reflects a mature understanding that Formula 1 is a collaborative sport; driver feedback, data analysis, and rapid development cycles all intertwine to produce performance gains. As the Singapore event approaches, fans will be watching closely to see whether McLaren can translate its upgrade philosophy into tangible speed on the track. The combination of a demanding street layout, a hot and humid climate, and the pressure of a sprint format will test the team’s ability to adapt quickly.
For Norris, the stakes are personal as well – a strong showing could restore confidence after a disappointing two‑race run, while continued struggles would deepen concerns about the car’s competitiveness for the remainder of the season. In summary, Lando Norris remains uncertain about McLaren’s capacity to resolve the straight‑line speed deficit before the Singapore Sprint. The team is actively investigating the root cause, but the rapid development of rival cars and the unique conditions experienced in Malaysia have added layers of complexity. With the Singapore Grand Prix looming, both driver and team will need to extract every ounce of performance from their machinery, hoping that the twisty Marina Bay circuit will provide a more forgiving environment for their current package.
The upcoming weekend promises high drama, and the outcome will likely shape McLaren’s trajectory for the final stretch of the championship.