George Russell: “Specialist” Lando Norris always strong at tracks like Zandvoort

Zandvoort, Netherlands — Lando Norris currently believes his car is insufficient to contend for a Formula 1 championship title, despite securing consecutive Grand Prix victories and pole positions. However, Norris believes McLaren can rectify this situation if they address their primary weakness. The defending champion's victory at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday came after a daring pass on standings leader Kimi Antonelli.

"I know I’ve just won two races in a row and had two poles in a row, but at the minute I don’t have the car I need to fight for a championship," Norris said after the race. He added that the right adjustments to slow-speed corners could position him to challenge Mercedes driver Antonelli. "We’re very, very strong in high-speed corners, and that’s the place we’ve improved the car the most...

No one matches us in high speed, and that’s a good thing," Norris said. However, he acknowledged that "Mercedes has a significant advantage over us in slow speed." Norris urged McLaren not to become complacent and to focus on enhancing the car's performance in low-speed corners to unlock its full potential. "If we can improve on these slow speeds, I’m confident that I can win every race this season.

If we don’t, then it’s much more difficult to believe so," he said. The extent of McLaren's ability to make Norris's wish come true remains unclear, as the Formula 1 "cost cap" limits how much teams can spend in key design areas. Mercedes started the year as the fastest car, winning the initial six races, but team principal Toto Wolff mentioned that the team has had a more challenging time than at the beginning of the season due to limited freedom to spend on major changes.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella is skeptical, stating that he is "pretty sure" Mercedes has some performance-boosting ideas in reserve. "I’m sure they will now cash in on their development that surely is happening in the background," Stella added. McLaren's boss emphasizes that Norris is becoming more confident on the track and is improving at choosing his moment to strike, rather than rushing.