Lando Norris Hopeful McLaren Upgrades at Imola Can bo…read more
Lando Norris Hopeful McLaren Upgrades at Imola Can bo…read more
Lando Norris is optimistic that upcoming McLaren upgrades at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola could give him a much-needed boost in his pursuit of the Formula 1 title. Despite McLaren’s impressive performance in the opening six rounds of the 2025 season, Norris has found himself trailing team-mate Oscar Piastri by 16 points in the Drivers’ Championship.
This weekend’s race at Imola marks the beginning of the European leg of the season, traditionally a key point for teams to introduce major technical updates. With the logistical ease of operating closer to their bases and having had sufficient time for development, teams—including McLaren—are expected to roll out significant upgrades.
Although McLaren has dominated the early season, winning five out of six Grands Prix and establishing a commanding 105-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship, Norris hasn’t quite felt at ease behind the wheel of the MCL39. In particular, he has struggled with one-lap pace during qualifying sessions, an area where Piastri has consistently had the upper hand.
Speaking ahead of the Emilia Romagna GP, Norris expressed hope that the forthcoming upgrades would address some of the handling issues he’s been facing. Team principal Andrea Stella also echoed this sentiment, suggesting the new parts could help make the car more comfortable for Norris to drive.
“I certainly think it will help,” Norris said, when asked about the upgrades. “I honestly don’t know the exact timeline for everything. There’s a range of updates that will come in gradually, not all at once. But at the same time, I don’t want to rely solely on that.”
Norris emphasized that he’s also focusing on his personal development and driving techniques in parallel to the car improvements. “There are things I’m working on myself, and hopefully those bring better results than just waiting for updates. But the good thing is that we’re working closely as a team to understand these issues,” he added.
The British driver was dominant over Piastri last season, but the dynamic has shifted dramatically in 2025. Piastri has emerged as a leading title contender, winning four of the last five races and becoming the bookmakers’ favorite for the championship. The change in fortunes has prompted Norris to reassess his approach.
“There are definitely differences compared to last year—how the car behaves, how it generates lap time, and how I need to adapt to get the most out of it,” Norris explained. “It’s a mix of factors. Some challenges are more complex than others and require time to resolve.”
While Norris remains confident that both the technical upgrades and his own efforts will eventually pay off, he understands that patience and persistence are essential. “I just have to keep pushing and stay focused. The improvements will come—we just have to keep working together and trust the process.”
As McLaren prepares for what could be a pivotal weekend at Imola, all eyes will be on whether the upgrades can help Norris close the gap to his in-form teammate and reignite his title challenge.
