Lando Norris admits the fight between McLaren and Ferrari for the final spot on the podium is getting "tense", but the Briton says his team can "bring it" to its rival in the final leg of the season.
McLaren holds just a 3.5-point advantage over the Scuderia in the Constructors' standings ahead of this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix.
However, the Italian outfit has been steadily gaining on the Woking-based outfit and appears set to overhaul the latter. But Norris says McLaren is holding firm, and while the Briton admits that the going is getting tough, he insists his team meet its rival's challenge head on.
"We are motivated, we're working hard but I think it's tough," he said ahead of this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix.
"It's hard to know where you're going to be every weekend because it's always generally been very close, even since the beginning of the season.
"It's not like we've run away with it at any point. It's been close since the beginning of the season, but it's tense.
"We're working hard, everyone back in the factory is working hard to try and find these last little things we need for the rest of the season.
"But Ferrari are strong, you've got to give it to them. They've come on very strong in the second half of the season and especially the last few weekends.
"So we're putting up a fight, and we can definitely bring it to them to the end. That's the plan."
Given the characteristics and qualities of each team's car, the balance of power has switched from one team to the other depending on the venues.
But Norris concedes that Ferrari's recent engine upgrade has further boosted the performance of its SF21, regardless of the circuit.
"Sometimes different parts of the track will suit us and different parts of the track suit them, and I think that's why we are always quite evenly matched," added Norris.
"Then you have some tracks which are just more suited to Ferrari, like Baku was with the slow speed or Monaco as well.
"So I think we both have quite evidently our strengths and weaknesses. Of course Ferrari, one of their weaknesses [its power unit] is now not so much a weakness as well.
"So yeah, it's tough. But it's exciting and we'll keep working hard."
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