“Nothing we can do” - Lando Norris’s bleak admission about McLaren’s big F1 weakness

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris has claimed there is “nothing” McLaren can currently do about its weakness in slow-speed corners. 

Norris put George Russell under pressure for the opening stages of Saturday’s sprint race at the Dutch Grand Prix but faded in the closing stages as he struggled with the rear-end of his McLaren. 

The Briton was overtaken by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and ultimately had to settle with third. After the sprint, Norris was quick to underline the areas McLaren needs to improve. 

“Just don't have the pace in general, especially the slow-speed corners,” Norris said. “We just struggle so much compared to the others. 

“We saw that the whole weekend so far. There's nothing we can do. The car's very good in high speed, and it's just nowhere near good enough in slow-speed. 

“So to be able to keep up was very difficult. Can't over-push in high-speed during the race we can't optimise our strengths, and more of our weaknesses show. Therefore, the pace was not good enough today.” 

McLaren brought its latest set of updates to its MCL40 after claiming its first victory of the season last time out in Hungary. Despite his disappointment, Norris dismissed the suggestion that the upgrades have not worked as hoped. 

“No - they’ve done exactly as they should, so I'm very happy,” Norris insisted. “We still managed to progress, it's just certain areas we're just nowhere near quick enough. 

“In the slow speed, we've just struggled the whole weekend and it seems clearly the weakness we have in the car at the minute. I feel if we still went back to Monaco now, we're just going to be as shocking as we were.

“We've clearly progressed a lot, especially in medium and high speed, which is where we're quick here, why we were so quick in Budapest. And it wasn't like we were quick everywhere in Budapest, and that's why we won. 

“The slow speed, we were still slower than Ferrari and matching Mercedes just about. So, we still have weaknesses, even though we managed to win one race, it’s just the strengths really shone there.

“Here, it's just the deficit's too big in the slow speed. Like I said, there’s just nothing we can do about it now. It's just how the car is for the time being, and that's where we still have to focus as a team. 

“We're trying to get everything out of it. I feel like I still did a good job today. Even with a P3, it's just I want to be fighting for top spot and fighting and going forward and catching George and putting him under pressure rather than trying to survive in every slow-speed corner and fighting for my life. 

“So, I'm very happy with the team and the progress we made, and the upgrades have all worked and allowed me to be P3 today. But we just need more if we want to fight for a championship, that's all.”