Norris 'belief' in McLaren only reinforced by team's latest signing

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Lando Norris says his belief and faith in McLaren's future and in the leadership of CEO Zak Brown have only been strengthened by the team's hiring of former Red Bull engineering chief Rob Marshall.

McLaren announced earlier this week that Marshall will be joining the Woking-based outfit's new technical management structure on January 1 2024 as Technical Director, Engineering & Design within its Formula 1 team.

Asked in Barcelona on Thursday what he believed Marshall would bring to McLaren, Norris said: "Just knowledge and expertise".

"He’s been at Red Bull for many, many years. He’s seen a lot of success with the team. He’s been with some of the best minds within Formula 1 and he’s definitely part of that group.

"So, brains and lap time I guess are the two big things. He’s a big signing for us as a team, so I think he's someone that a lot of people within McLaren will look up to and respect.

"But it's a good step for us as a team to keep driving forward, continuing to add performance and expertise to the whole team in our drive to improve further up the grid."

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So far this season, McLaren has performed below its own expectations. The team currently sits P6 in Formula 1's Constructors' standings, or two spots behind where it aimed to be ahead of its 2023 campaign.

On the back of his team's disappointing results year-to-date, Norris was asked how much confidence he has in Brown's stewardship and vision.

"I would say a lot, even more now than in the past," Norris replied. "I guess I would never want to say that I have no belief, and I have never said it, and probably won’t.

"Definitely since the last few changes there have been a lot of good things coming from that, both in terms of mood, atmosphere, but at the same time also performance and things to look forward to in the future."

Norris suggested that McLaren was still a work in progress, and that time was still required for its changes to bear fruit.

"So not everything is purely direct in Formula 1," he added. "A lot of things take time, so I guess we have that part of it too.

"Definitely things have taken a step forward, so I can easily confirm that and I can say it with confidence, but, until we see it, that’s the timely part."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.