Confident Lando Norris fires McLaren warning shot to F1 rivals

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris — Photo: © LAT Images

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Confident Norris fires McLaren warning shot to F1 rivals

The McLaren star has revealed his excitement for the upcoming 2024 season

Matthew Hobkinson Lead Editor

F1 Editor & Journalist

Wednesday 6 December 2023 13:57

Lando Norris has admitted that he is more confident than ever heading into the 2024 Formula 1 season with McLaren.

Despite an awful start to the year for Norris and his team-mate Oscar Piastri, McLaren turned their season around in style to finish as arguably the closest challengers to Red Bull.

A raft of impressive mid-season upgrades saw them propel up the order, regularly challenging for podiums in a very fast MCL60.

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Norris ultimately ended the season in sixth, while McLaren secured P4 in the constructors' championship.

Oscar Piastri (L) and Lando Norris (R) proved to be two of the main challengers to Max Verstappen (C) in 2023

The MCL60 underwent a mid-season transformation that launched it to the front of the grid

And the young Briton is all too aware just how impressive a season they could have had if they would have had a better start.

But rather than dwell on the past, Norris is eyeing up McLaren's chances in 2024, adamant that the team is in the best shape possible going into next year.

Norris: 2024 could be great for McLaren

"I hate ever being confident or overconfident about things, I'm never that kind of guy," he told Sky Sports when asked if McLaren are set for a big year in 2024.

"But I think so, because of what we have. We have a lot more things in place, of course we've got a few new guys who are starting as well, coming from other teams.

Lando Norris is confident heading into the 2024 season

"But now we're in the strongest place we've been for probably the last 10 years, I feel like we've got more things to look forward to next year - we've finally got the wind tunnel properly going and so many things which are coming together more than ever.

"If there's ever a time in my life, over the last five years, I want to be a bit more confident, it's probably going into 2024.

"Because we just need to start the season off well. This year we started off terribly and we've still ended up being very, very strong. So if we can start the season a little bit strong, at least, then I think it can be a great year."

Red Bull Max Verstappen McLaren Lando Norris Oscar Piastri