Lando Norris has conceded McLaren remains well short of Formula 1's leading force after a disappointing Austrian Grand Prix, admitting Mercedes currently operates on a different level despite both teams sharing the same power unit.
The reigning world champion endured once again a frustrating afternoon at the Red Bull Ring, bringing his MCL40 home in seventh place after spending much of the race struggling to match the pace at the front, a hassle shared by teammate Oscar Piastri although the Aussie managed to finish four spots ahead in P4.
While George Russell stormed to victory for Mercedes, Norris finished more than 30 seconds adrift, underlining the gulf that still separates McLaren from the benchmark team.
Any suggestion that McLaren had been on equal terms with Russell's race-winning package was quickly dismissed by Norris.
“We’re a long way behind,” he said after the race. “There’s a reason he [Russell] is on pole by four tenths.”
Despite showing flashes of pace over a single lap during the weekend, McLaren never looked capable of sustaining a challenge across the 71-lap race, with tyre degradation and an unpredictable car once again undermining its prospects.
McLaren still searching for answers
Norris admitted the underlying issues that have hampered McLaren throughout the season remain unresolved, describing a car that continues to leave its drivers fighting rather than attacking.
“I think we still struggled with the balance and it’s still incredibly difficult to drive the car,” Norris explained.
“I expect that’s probably a similar story for everyone on track today, so we didn’t change anything, we still have the same struggles and we just need time still to improve it.”
©McLaren
The Briton also pointed to Ferrari's unexpectedly difficult race as one of the few surprises on an otherwise predictable afternoon.
Having arrived in Austria buoyed by Lewis Hamilton's victory in Barcelona and armed with an upgraded power unit, Ferrari instead slipped backwards as the race unfolded.
“I mean I would say the pace seems to be a little bit better than we probably expected into Sunday, the shock was probably Ferrari today struggling so much,” Norris said.
“So, to be honest I feel bad for them, I mean when you have no power you have to push like hell in the corners and you can’t do that with these kind of tyres, so it’s a tough race for them but otherwise not a bad race.”
With Formula 1 heading next to Silverstone next week, Norris returns home knowing McLaren still has significant work ahead.
In anything, Austria reinforced an uncomfortable reality: despite carrying the number one on his car, both he and the Woking-based team remain some distance from consistently fighting at the front.
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