Lando Norris ‘hopeful’ Singapore GP Will Fix Speed Issue as McLaren ‘need to do a better job’

Norris Demands Improvement After McLaren Stumbles in Baku and Sepang

Lando Norris has offered a candid assessment of McLaren’s recent dip in form, acknowledging that both he and the Woking-based outfit have underperformed and must raise their execution heading into the Singapore Grand Prix. McLaren had previously enjoyed a commanding run driven by mid-season car updates, which saw Norris secure three pole positions and two Grand Prix victories across rounds in Budapest, Zandvoort, Monza, and Madrid. That momentum was abruptly halted during the subsequent events at Baku and Sepang, where neither Norris nor teammate Oscar Piastri managed to secure a podium finish while rival outfits showed superior raw pace.

Reflecting on the engineering and operational setbacks experienced during the Malaysian round at Sepang, Norris addressed the media on Thursday at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. When questioned regarding the lessons taken from the previous race, Norris explained: Oh, there were a fair few, both from my side, and from us as a team. Obviously from what happened in the race, but also just general things from a car point of view and what we need to do a better job in, and how can we get back to the same level as we were in the previous few: Budapest, Zandvoort and Madrid.

He further detailed the collaborative recovery efforts taking place within the team, stating: So, the team have been working very hard, we’ve all worked very hard to understand what we could learn from last weekend, what we can and need to do better in. The exact things, the specifics of it, I don’t need to go into, but there was a good amount. Norris added: There were some obvious ones, such as the straight-line speed, and the issues I’ve been having with the car, and obviously more technical ones, [like] how can we unlock more potential from the car to get back to the performance that we had previously. That’s a tricky one to do.

Straight-Line Speed Woes and Track-Specific Challenges

Norris noted that McLaren’s performance drop was not an isolated incident confined strictly to Malaysia’s circuit characteristics, pointing to broader underlying factors. Discussing the deficit, Norris said: Well, at Baku we weren’t necessarily too quick either, so I wouldn’t say just a Malaysia thing. There are certainly some aspects of Malaysia, with the roughness of the tarmac, that we think does play a part. He continued: It’s a good thing for us to see this weekend if some of the performance that we were missing there does come back. Singapore is a track I’ve enjoyed, and we’ve been pretty good here over the last few years.

Addressing the suitability of recent track configurations compared to McLaren’s package, Norris elaborated: Certainly, a little bit of it is track layout, and the last couple of tracks have not been to the same strengths as what we’ve seen in Madrid and some of the other races, but all in all we’ve still been underperforming to the level we need to and we want to be, so we still need to do a better job no matter what.

A primary technical hurdle in recent rounds has been a persistent lack of straight-line velocity, which has compromised Norris’s grid positioning. Outlining the impact and his expectations for Marina Bay, Norris remarked: We need to get it on track first and see how much better [it is]. He further noted: It’s obviously also a circuit where straight lines are not like the highest priority, and not as detrimental as the last few weekends. Nevertheless, you always want to go down the straights as quickly as what you should be able to. It’s always tough when you come out of corners better and end up going slower. It’s been a frustrating two weekends trying to figure out what the issue has been and why there’s just been a constant lack of straight-line speed and performance.

Highlighting the fine margins at the front of the grid, Norris said: Especially in this kind of battle we’ve been in [at the front of the grid], the last two Qualifyings it’s been [a difference of] two or three positions, so it’s cost me quite a lot. At the same time, there’s obviously things I can do better as well. I’m confident that the team have done a good job. They’ve put a lot of work into trying to figure out things. I’m hopeful that it will be better this weekend, but honestly I have to get out on track and see first.

Why This Matters

McLaren’s sudden loss of form arrives at a pivotal juncture in the championship standings. The team currently sits in third place in the Teams’ Championship with 316 points, trailing Ferrari (405 points) and leaders Mercedes (556 points). Crucially, Red Bull is closely pursuing McLaren in fourth place with a narrow margin of just 18 points. With Marina Bay placing lower emphasis on straight-line speed than Baku and Sepang, McLaren faces an immediate test to prove whether its technical troubles are track-dependent or symptomatic of a wider performance ceiling against its primary rivals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does McLaren currently stand in the Teams’ Championship?

McLaren occupies third place in the Teams’ Championship standings with 316 points, sitting behind Mercedes (556 points) and Ferrari (405 points), and holding an 18-point advantage over fourth-placed Red Bull.

What specific issue has hindered Lando Norris in recent races?

Norris has experienced an ongoing deficit in straight-line speed, which caused him to lose two to three positions during qualifying sessions at Baku and Sepang, complicating his race weekends.

How has Norris previously performed at the Singapore Grand Prix?

Norris has a strong record at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, having secured pole position and a race victory in 2024, along with podium finishes in both 2023 and 2025.