Lando Norris has openly expressed his doubts about McLaren’s ability to sort out a performance problem that is sapping straight‑line speed from his car ahead of the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix. The British driver, who has been in scintillating form earlier in the season – securing three pole positions and two race victories across the four events that straddled the summer hiatus – has seen his momentum stall in the two most recent outings, held in Azerbaijan and Malaysia. In Baku, Norris qualified only fifth and his weekend ended prematurely after he was caught up in a first‑lap collision that forced him out of the race.
The following weekend, the Bahrain Grand Prix was staged at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, where he again qualified fifth but could manage only a ninth‑place finish after a chaotic, error‑filled run. The main issue appears to be a loss of speed on the straights, which has even seen him lag behind his teammate Oscar Piastri in certain sectors of the track.
When asked by Sky Sports F1 whether the team could iron out the problem in time for the Sprint race in Singapore, Norris replied bluntly: “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 added that the situation in Malaysia had also been disappointing: “There are other things.
In Malaysia I could have done better. I can’t just have that. That’s not just an excuse.” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged that the competition may have made larger strides in development while McLaren’s progress has been more incremental. He noted that after a period of underwhelming results, the team seemed to regain some competitiveness when an upgrade package delivered Norris his first pole and victory of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break.
However, subsequent races have shown that rivals are quickly catching up. George Russell of Mercedes took a commanding win in Azerbaijan, and Max Verstappen demonstrated Red Bull’s resurgence by winning in Malaysia. Stella explained the shifting landscape: “We see a scenario in Formula 1 which seems to be changing pretty rapidly. In Hungary we took some upgrades and were in a position to claim pole in Hungary and Zandvoort and then we were in condition to do pole 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 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 Malaysian Grand Prix presented unusual conditions – extremely high temperatures and a bumpy track surface – which may have amplified the car’s shortcomings. Stella suggested that these unique factors could mean the data from Sepang does not fully represent how the car will behave in Singapore: “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 a position to say if Singapore will be more suitable or not, because from a track layout point of view we thought Sepang would be a decent circuit for us.” Stella added that Singapore’s street circuit, with its tight corners and long straight, could either expose the same straight‑line deficit or offer a chance to mitigate it through better aerodynamic balance. He emphasized the need to evaluate the upgrades McLaren has introduced since Hungary, stating that the Singapore weekend will provide a clearer answer on whether the team’s development direction is bearing fruit.
The stakes are high for Norris, who is currently trailing his teammate in the championship and needs a strong performance to keep his title hopes alive. The British driver’s candid remarks highlight the mental and technical pressure he is under. Losing two‑tenths per lap may sound marginal, but over the 55‑lap sprint distance it translates into a significant time loss that can be the difference between a podium and a mid‑field finish.
Beyond the immediate technical challenge, Norris’s comments underscore a broader narrative within Formula 1: the relentless pace of development and the fine margins that separate front‑runners from the rest of the pack. Teams are constantly introducing aerodynamic updates, power‑unit refinements, and suspension tweaks, and a single unresolved issue can quickly erode any advantage gained. As the calendar moves to Singapore, the final Sprint weekend of the season, fans can expect a dramatic showdown. The race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract, cancelling at any time.
Whether McLaren can deliver a solution in time for the Singapore sprint remains to be seen, but the team’s engineers will be working around the clock, analyzing telemetry, wind‑tunnel data, and on‑track feedback to try and close the gap. For Norris, the hope is that the street circuit’s unique characteristics will either mask the straight‑line deficiency or provide a platform for the new upgrades to shine, allowing him to fight for points and perhaps reclaim the form that made him a championship contender earlier in the year.