Norris reveals how McLaren managed to up its game in Suzuka following a tough start to the season
McLaren arrived at Suzuka simply relieved to have both cars on the grid after a turbulent build‑up — and left with a haul of points, a near‑miss at victory, and a clear sense that their 2026 package is beginning to bite.
Oscar Piastri delivered the early fireworks, launching into the lead and controlling the opening phase of the race with impressive authority. His pace was strong enough to keep George Russell at arm’s length, and at times he even edged away from the Mercedes.
But pitting before the Safety Car proved costly, dropping him behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli once the order reset. Whether he could have held off the Mercedes pair without that interruption will remain one of Suzuka’s great “what ifs.”
Lando Norris, meanwhile, produced a race of two halves — a quiet middle stint followed by a late surge that carried him past Lewis Hamilton and into a well‑earned fifth place. Reflecting afterward, he was upbeat about both his own performance and McLaren’s trajectory. “A strong day for the team, with many positives,” he said.
Norris highlighted his launch as a key moment. “I got a great start, and we managed to show a bit more of our competitive pace, especially in clean air.”
That pace became more evident as the race unfolded, particularly once he settled into tyre management and began closing on the Ferraris. “I'm pleased with how we managed the tyres and that we managed to pass Lewis in the final laps.”
One of the most encouraging signs for McLaren was the progress in power unit deployment — an area that had previously held them back. Norris made a point of acknowledging it: “We've clearly made significant progress with our power unit deployment, and this track suited our car well.”
With Piastri finishing second and Norris fifth, the team banked a strong result that reflects both performance and resilience. “Second and fifth is a good result, and a sign of the hard work the team is putting in, so thanks to them,” Norris said. “It’s a sign we're heading in the right direction.”
The extended break before Miami offers McLaren a valuable window to consolidate gains and push development further. Norris is already looking ahead.
“We’ll head back to the factory now and put some work in over this extended gap in racing and focus on coming back in Miami in the best shape possible.”
