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FIA Selects Lando Norris’ McLaren for Inspection and Display at Saudi Grand Prix
As Formula 1 returns to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the FIA has announced that Lando Norris’ McLaren MCL39 will be one of the cars showcased in a routine pre-race inspection and fan display. This initiative is part of the sport’s standard weekend proceedings and aims to engage fans while providing greater transparency into the technical aspects of F1 cars.
The display will take place on Friday ahead of the weekend’s on-track action. Norris’ McLaren will be featured alongside Gabriel Bortoleto’s Sauber and Liam Lawson’s RB, giving fans and media a rare chance to observe the engineering details of the cars outside of their garages. These displays are not related to any regulatory issues or investigations but are part of Formula 1’s broader effort to bring fans closer to the sport and to rotate technical visibility among teams.
The FIA routinely selects different drivers and teams for these pre-race displays throughout the season. This ensures variety and helps maintain a sense of openness between the sport, its stakeholders, and the fans. It also gives technical analysts, photographers, and journalists an opportunity to study the cars in detail ahead of the racing action.
This weekend’s event holds added significance for Lando Norris, who is under pressure to rebound following a mixed performance at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite finishing on the podium, the British driver was visibly disappointed. He started sixth on the grid and was unable to work his way up to contend for the win, while teammate Oscar Piastri dominated the weekend — grabbing pole position and taking his first victory of the 2025 season.
Norris’ post-race comments in Bahrain painted a picture of frustration and self-doubt. “I feel like I’ve never driven a Formula 1 car before,” he admitted, revealing just how unsettled he felt behind the wheel of the MCL39. Though his results have been respectable, Norris has made it clear he’s not comfortable in this year’s car and has struggled to find a natural rhythm.
Despite his personal discomfort, Norris maintains a slim three-point lead over Piastri in the drivers’ championship standings. That margin adds extra weight to his performance in Jeddah, especially with this race marking the final round in the season’s opening triple-header. If Norris fails to deliver again, Piastri could leapfrog him in the standings and shift the internal team dynamic even further.
The MCL39, while not a favorite of Norris, has proven to be competitive, especially when viewed in contrast to the declining form of Red Bull Racing. Once the dominant force on the grid, Red Bull has stumbled early in 2025. Last year in Jeddah, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez — who has since departed the team — locked out the front row and cruised to a one-two finish. This year, however, the team is struggling to replicate that pace, opening the door for rivals like McLaren to seize the spotlight.
With Red Bull appearing vulnerable and McLaren gaining ground, there is a real opportunity for a commanding result in Saudi Arabia. A one-two finish is within reach if Norris and Piastri can maximize the car’s performance. For Norris in particular, this weekend could be crucial. Regaining his confidence and overcoming the psychological hurdles he’s battling with could be the difference between remaining the team’s lead driver or watching Piastri take that mantle.
As anticipation builds in the paddock, the spotlight will be firmly on Lando Norris. Fans and pundits alike will be eager to see whether he can shake off the Bahrain blues and steer McLaren toward a second straight triumph in what’s shaping up to be an unpredictable and exciting 2025 Formula 1 season.
