McLaren’s Lando Norris expressed his disappointment with the team’s high-downforce approach for the Belgian Grand Prix, admitting they “got it wrong” and paid the price during the race.
The unpredictable weather conditions in the lead-up to the race had led McLaren to opt for a higher-downforce setup, anticipating the possibility of rain returning on race day. However, the rain during the race was minimal and short-lived, making the high-downforce configuration less favorable for Norris and his MCL60.
Despite securing a respectable P7 finish and executing a successful undercut strategy during his mid-race tire stop, Norris struggled throughout the race, feeling the lack of straight-line speed due to the high-downforce setup.
“I just barely was making eighth gear we were that slow on the straights,” Norris revealed in his post-race interview with Sky F1. “I just couldn’t defend, I couldn’t attack.”
The lack of straight-line speed made overtaking extremely difficult for Norris, who managed to pass only a few competitors in the corners during the race. He highlighted a particular instance when he attempted to overtake Alex Albon out of Turn 1 with DRS and overtake assistance but found himself losing ground instead.
The frustration was evident as Norris described the experience as “painful,” especially considering his impressive P2 finishes in the British and Hungarian Grands Prix prior to Spa.
The race strategy involved a tire change to the hard compound, but it didn’t yield the desired results due to tire performance issues. However, the team’s decision to switch to soft tires later in the race proved to be a game-changer. Norris was surprised to discover that he had undercut around ten cars, enabling him to secure a commendable P7 finish.
Norris also praised his ability to maintain tire life and fend off a charging Esteban Ocon in the final laps, further highlighting his determination and skill in adverse conditions.
In conclusion, despite McLaren’s initial miscalculation with the high-downforce setup, Norris’s perseverance and the team’s well-timed strategy adjustments salvaged a solid result for the British driver. Moving forward, the team will likely learn from this experience to make more precise decisions regarding car setups, aiming to capitalize on their competitive package and continue their successful campaign in the remaining races of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
