Lando Norris Expresses Concerns About McLaren’s Performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Lando Norris is candidly predicting that McLaren may face difficulties once again at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, an event that presents a crucial opportunity for the team to solidify its position in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship. Currently, Norris holds a 49-point lead over third-placed Max Verstappen in the standings. To ensure Verstappen remains out of contention for the title after the race in Las Vegas, Norris needs to extend that lead to 58 points.

Historically, the Las Vegas circuit has posed significant challenges for McLaren. During the previous year’s race, the MCL38 exhibited severe graining issues, resulting in both Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, failing to qualify or finish in the top five. Reflecting on that experience, Norris recalled, “It’s just very difficult, super low grip. I feel like I could drive a road car quicker than we drive at the minute,” highlighting the struggles he faced during practice sessions.

Fast forward a year, and McLaren has demonstrated a remarkable turnaround, dominating the 2025 championship, particularly in the constructors’ standings. Team principal Andrea Stella has expressed optimism, suggesting that this year’s Pirelli tires are less prone to graining, which could alleviate some of the issues encountered in the past. However, with expected cool temperatures—potentially dropping to 7°C—Norris remains cautious about the team’s prospects.

During a post-race press conference in São Paulo, Norris was asked how the cold temperatures might impact McLaren’s performance. He replied, “Hinder, for sure. I think it was our worst race last year. So I’m not really looking forward to it.” Despite the challenges, Norris acknowledged the advancements McLaren has made this year, stating, “Obviously, we’ve improved a lot of things this year, so I’m not going to be too negative about it. I think there’s plenty to look forward to.”

Norris specifically mentioned that while he looks forward to races in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, he has reservations about Las Vegas, noting that the team’s performance in previous years has been subpar. He expressed, “Las Vegas just a little bit less, because they’ve been probably some of our weakest races over the last two years. So let’s wait and see.”

A journalist, sensing a negative tone in Norris’s comments, challenged him about his mindset, especially given his championship lead. Norris responded assertively, saying, “I can say what I want. I can think what I want. I always try and be as honest as I can be. If I don’t think we’re going to be quick, I don’t think we’re going to be quick.”

In his explanation, Norris clarified that he was not predicting a finish in tenth place; rather, he was expressing concerns about the difficulty of securing a victory. He pointed out that last year’s data clearly indicated McLaren’s struggles: “We were a long way off – just go and look at the data from last year. Look at the race traces – we were miles off.”

Throughout the season, there have been numerous instances where McLaren has not been competitive enough. Norris emphasized that he has not been in a position of guaranteed victory at every race, stating, “It’s not like we’ve won every single race, and you’re expecting me to say those things. I’m just giving my opinion on whether I think it’s going to be easy.”

Norris reflected on his recent performances, noting, “I won last weekend by 30 seconds – like, very, very easy. I won today by pushing a lot more, only 10 seconds, and Max was probably the quickest out on track today.” This indicates his awareness of the competitive landscape and the challenges posed by rivals like Verstappen.

He also reiterated McLaren’s historical performance in Las Vegas, stating, “We’ve never been good in Vegas, so why am I going to think, ‘Yeah, it’s going to be fine’?” Norris maintained that he was simply being realistic about the upcoming race, adding, “I’m giving my honest opinion on how I think we’re going to be. We’ve never been good there, so I’m not the most confident about going into that race.”

While he remains open to the possibility of a strong performance, Norris noted, “Maybe I’ll win – then we’ll see. But I’m not going to lie and say, ‘Yeah, I’m very confident, and I think it’s going to be an easy weekend,’ because I don’t think that’s how it’s going to be.” His candidness reflects his commitment to authenticity, stating, “So no – I mean, you’re very right to have your own opinion on what you think I should say and what I should not say and whatever, but I’ll do what I like.”

In summary, Lando Norris’s candid assessment of McLaren’s prospects for the Las Vegas Grand Prix illustrates both his awareness of the challenges ahead and his commitment to honesty. As the team prepares for this critical race, all eyes will be on Norris and McLaren to see how they tackle the hurdles presented by the unique Las Vegas circuit.