Lando Norris Optimistic McLaren’s Low Downforce Strategy Will Yield Results in Belgian GP

Lando Norris is optimistic that McLaren's decision to go with a lower downforce setup will yield positive results in the Belgian Grand Prix. He mentioned that the reduced downforce might have been a disadvantage today but is hopeful it will benefit them in the upcoming race.

Lando Norris is optimistic that McLaren's choice to use a lower downforce setup will be beneficial in Sunday's F1 Belgian Grand Prix.

Following a strong performance in Friday's dry conditions, Norris managed to clinch the fourth starting position for tomorrow's race.

McLaren's slow speed in the middle section of the track, which requires high downforce, was noticeable during the entire qualifying session.

Norris managed to bounce back and secure fifth place in qualifying (prior to Max Verstappen's penalty) after almost being eliminated in Q1.

Looking back on the qualifying session, Norris admitted he hasn't quite connected with his McLaren F1 vehicle.

"The entire weekend, Red Bull has been ahead of us, even though we had a slight edge in speed yesterday," he mentioned. "I believe Red Bull was holding back and not revealing their full potential, while we showed everything we had."

"Yesterday's performance was essentially everything we had to offer. Going into today, we remained hopeful. Personally, I faced some challenges. Oscar was nearly the fastest in the first two sessions. In Q3, we both encountered some additional difficulties."

"From my perspective, I couldn't quite get into a good rhythm today. I constantly felt a bit behind and on the defensive. So, ending up in fifth place was a pleasant surprise for me, and I'm satisfied with that result."

"It wasn't the outcome I was hoping for, to be honest. However, I did manage to pass some fast cars, including Perez's Red Bull."

Norris revealed that McLaren has chosen to use "a bit less downforce" as they get ready for a race without rain.

This implies that McLaren will achieve higher speeds on the straights, which could help them advance their position during the race.

He explained that the somewhat reduced downforce might have been a disadvantage for them today, but they hope it will benefit them tomorrow.

"I was really having a hard time, to be honest. My confidence was lacking, especially at high speeds. By the end of yesterday, I felt a bit more assured, but I still haven't found the same rhythm I had in earlier races. It may sound bad, but I have to put in a lot of effort to comprehend how the car reacts in every corner. In the past weeks and months, everything felt much more instinctive."

“It might have just been one of those weekends. We will put in the effort tonight to ensure we are as ready as possible for tomorrow.”

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