Norris' McLaren success down to "finer details"

McLaren driver Lando Norris believes he needs to refine the "finer details" in order to improve in his third season.

Norris finished ninth in last year's standings, helping his team to achieve third in the constructors' championship and enters the new season as the most experienced driver at the team, despite new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo's extra time in F1.

The British driver has pointed to improving the smaller details of his driving in order to claw his way further up the grid.

“This year is more similar to last year to be honest," said Norris. "It’s really trying to iron out some of those smaller things, the finer details and that’s something that just happens year on year as you have, not less and less, but smaller and smaller things to work on and there is of course some bigger and some slightly smaller still but how I am approaching it is very similar to last year.

“That is just giving it my all and working as hard a possible to be a better driver, be as far up the order as I can in qualifying, the race or any point of the season and that is purely my mentality.

“No matter what the session is, I just do my best and make sure I’m as high up the order as I can be and if I’ve not done that I’m generally not very happy because I’m quite disappointed in myself and I know what I’m capable of doing and what I’m not capable of doing."

Norris' improved performances were shown by his stellar qualifying performances, making Q3 in each of the first eight races last year.

However, he feels he has left opportunities on the table and hopes to turn around a tendency to underperform in the future.

“It’s more often than not I feel I’ve underachieved and that I’ve not done what I’m capable of doing," he added.

"It’s trying to reach that target more, trying to reach my own target of knowing and being happy with the job I have done and being in that group a little bit more.”

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton lets Mercedes secret slip as Toto Wolff celebrates third driver

• Today 00:30

'He took my seat' - Lewis Hamilton heaps praise on Mercedes replacement Kimi Antonelli

• Yesterday 23:45

F1 Results Today: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix times and positions

• Yesterday 23:06

Lewis Hamilton blindsided by Top Gear tribute at Chinese Grand Prix: 'Why did you choose him?'

• Yesterday 22:45

Max Verstappen again linked with sensational Mercedes move as Red Bull suffer China crisis

• Yesterday 21:55

Toto Wolff celebrates Mercedes 1-2-3 at Chinese Grand Prix

• Yesterday 20:56