Lando Norris has been linked with a move to Red Bull over the last year after a succession of strong performances.
Lando Norris has issued a warning shot to his competitors ahead of the 2024 Formula One season, stating that his first Grand Prix victory will come within the next 12 months as he seeks to restore the McLaren name to the top step of the podium.
In 2023, the 24-year-old had his best F1 season to yet, finishing sixth in the standings and driving McLaren to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship despite the team arriving in Bahrain with the slowest car in the competition.
Norris secured seven podium places along the way, and while six of them saw him finish second, his maiden race win remained elusive. To make matters worse, rookie teammate Oscar Piastri won the sprint race in Qatar, edging off Max Verstappen for McLaren’s only victory of the season.
However, if McLaren’s pace after the summer break is any indication, Norris could be Verstappen and Red Bull’s closest adversary when the 2024 season begins.
When asked when he expects his first Grand Prix victory will come, Norris expressed confidence in both his own and his team’s chances, saying, “It’s going to be next year, and I’m with McLaren next year, and I feel like we’re so close.”
“We’ve got a lot more things in place, and we’ve got a few new guys who are joining us from other teams.” We’re in the best shape we’ve been in maybe the last ten years.
“I feel like we have more to look forward to next year – we’ve finally got the wind tunnel up and running and so many things are coming together more than ever.” If there’s one period in my life in the last five years when I’d like to be a little more confident, it’s definitely 2024.
“But all we need is a good start to the season.” We had a terrible start to the year, but we ended up being very, very strong. So, if we can start the season off strong, I believe we can have a terrific year.”
Despite conjecture tying him to a move to Red Bull, as well as public words of admiration from both Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, Norris stays loyal to the team that gave him his F1 start in 2019, as he enters his sixth season with McLaren.
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