‘Worst on the grid’: Norris warns key flaw may haunt him in Vegas

Lando Norris arrives in Las Vegas carrying the swagger of a driver who has suddenly made winning look routine. Two victories on the bounce, a 24-point cushion over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, and a surge of form that’s turned him into the class of the field.

And yet, as the Strip’s neon lights flicker back into F1 mode, Norris is quietly bracing for turbulence.

McLaren has never been at ease in Vegas. Neither Norris nor Piastri has stood on the podium in the race’s short two-year history, and the combination of cold temperatures, low grip and long straights has traditionally exposed the team’s weaknesses.

Montreal and Baku earlier this season painted a similar picture — and the British driver is under no illusions.

“Apparently I am not allowed to say we’re not favourites anymore,” Norris quipped in Wednesday's FIA press conference in Las Vegas.

“From the last two years it’s certainly been the hardest race of the year that we’ve had. My expectations are not to the same level as Mexico, Brazil, where we’ve been performing very well for a good amount of years. We’ve had an excellent year.

“We’ve improved in races which we have struggled in the past so I am coming in with more confidence than previous years but not the same amount of confidence going into the past few races that we’ve had. You never know.

“Expectations are still higher. I am still coming here to win and to want to repeat the last few weekends that I’ve had. I think it’s going to be trickier for sure than the last couple.”

In short, don’t bet on another Norris masterclass in Sin City.

The Achilles’ Heel That Vegas Could Expose

Vegas’ low-grip surface is notorious for triggering front-tyre graining – a dreaded phenomenon that robs drivers of grip when the rubber runs too cold. Norris readily admits he’s more vulnerable than anyone when that problem hits, although he believes he’s made progress on the issue.

“Now I am able to judge things better and work out these processes better,” he said, before acknowledging the scale of the challenge ahead.

“Vegas is a whole different ball game in terms of cold, low grip. I always struggle a lot with front graining. I feel like I am the worst on the grid with it. Definitely better now.

“I definitely used to be the worst on the grid. I hate it, I hate understeer, I hate the front not working, those kinds of things, and it’s something that can happen a lot here and has done in the past.

“As long as I can combat those things I know those things very clearly. I know I have to work on them. Once you start the weekend like that you can be more confident. If I get out tomorrow in FP1 and FP2, and grain the fronts I am not going to be very happy when I come in.”

Can McLaren Flip The Script?

McLaren has significantly reworked large chunks of its package for 2025, and Norris believes that might be their ace card – or a false dawn in Vegas.

“This is a different track altogether. Low downforce, long straights, difficult braking zones and difficult to be consistent and that’s never a nice thing for our car,” he said.

Read also:

• Hill: Norris ‘’found something’ against Piastri at the perfect time

“We’ve changed a lot of stuff on our car for this year so we might turn out to be the best. Let’s wait and see.”

Whether Norris can overcome the chilly challenge – and the tyre trait he openly “hates” – will define whether Vegas becomes a stumbling block or the scene of a spectacular hat-trick.

One thing is certain: the championship leader arrives both confident and cautious, fully aware the Strip gives nothing away for free.

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