Lando Norris has openly expressed his doubts about whether McLaren will be able to remedy a troubling problem with his car that is sapping straight‑line speed as the team prepares for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix weekend. The British driver, who has been a standout performer this season – securing three pole positions and two race victories in the four events that straddled the summer hiatus – has seen his form dip dramatically in the two races that followed the break. In Azerbaijan and Malaysia, Norris was unable to replicate his earlier pace.
He qualified only fifth at both circuits, suffered a race‑ending collision in Baku, and then managed a modest ninth‑place finish in Malaysia, a race that was marred by a series of mistakes and a chaotic environment. The core of the problem appears to be an unidentified flaw in the car’s aerodynamics or power unit that is making Norris slower than his teammate Oscar Piastri on certain sections of the Sepang International Circuit.
When asked by Sky Sports F1 whether the team could sort the issue out in time for the 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.
There are also other things. In Malaysia I could have done better. I can't just have that. That's not just an excuse.
There are things I can do better and the team as well." McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has acknowledged that the competition may have made larger strides in development during the same period. He noted that while McLaren appeared to be back in contention after a successful upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix – which delivered Norris’s first pole and victory of the season – rivals such as Mercedes and Red Bull have continued to push forward. 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 extreme heat and abrasive track surface in Malaysia have been cited as possible outliers that may have amplified the car’s shortcomings. Stella suggested that the unique conditions in Sepang could be masking the true performance of the car, and that the tighter, more technical layout of the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore might provide a clearer picture of where McLaren stands.
He added, "There are very specific conditions in Malaysia, so I think we should give ourselves more time. 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 condition 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 stakes are high for McLaren. After a promising start to the season, the team has struggled to maintain momentum, and the Singapore Sprint weekend represents the final opportunity to salvage points before the season’s climax. The Sprint format, which features a shorter race and a separate qualifying session, could either magnify the current deficit or offer a chance for a surprise performance if the team manages to extract any remaining performance from the car.
From a technical perspective, losing two tenths of a second per lap is significant in Formula 1 terms. Over a 55‑lap sprint, that equates to a cumulative loss of eleven seconds – a margin that can be the difference between a podium finish and languishing outside the points. The loss could be stemming from a variety of sources: aerodynamic drag, a compromised rear‑wing configuration, engine mapping issues, or even tyre degradation exacerbated by the car’s setup. McLaren’s engineering crew will be poring over telemetry data, wind‑tunnel results, and on‑track feedback to isolate the root cause.
Norris’s frustration is understandable. As a driver who has demonstrated the ability to extract maximum performance from the car, being held back by a technical gremlin is especially demoralising.
Yet his comments also hint at a willingness to improve his own inputs – a recognition that driver error may also be contributing to the sub‑par results. In the high‑pressure environment of Formula 1, the synergy between driver and machine is crucial, and any disconnect can quickly translate into lost time on the track.
Looking ahead, the Singapore Grand Prix will be closely watched by analysts and fans alike. If McLaren can deliver a competitive package, it could reignite the championship battle and provide a morale boost for the team.
Conversely, if the issue persists, it may cement a narrative of a promising season that stalled due to development stagnation. The race weekend will kick off on Friday with practice sessions, followed by qualifying on Saturday and the Sprint race on Sunday morning, with the main Grand Prix later that day. Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the action live, and fans can also stream via NOW with a flexible, cancel‑anytime subscription. All eyes will be on Lando Norris, his team, and the technical solutions they bring to the Marina Bay street circuit, as they strive to turn a painful two‑tenths deficit into a competitive showing in one of Formula 1’s most iconic venues.