Lando Norris believes McLaren's latest upgrade package has the potential to provide the performance boost the team has been searching for, yet the reigning world champion is keeping expectation in check until seeing the results on track.
After arriving in Budapest with one of its biggest development packages of the season, McLaren is hoping to strengthen its position before Formula 1 heads into the summer break.
Among the headline changes is the long-awaited debut of the team's own 'Macarena' rear wing concept, alongside additional aerodynamic developments that will be evaluated during Friday practice at the Hungaroring.
Although the Woking-based outfit has earned a reputation for delivering effective upgrades, Norris admitted recent experiences have encouraged a more measured approach.
"We have probably still the best complete power unit package. We were hopeful for a good weekend in Spa, and hopeful that it can be a good weekend here," the Briton told reporters on Thursday.
Optimism tempered by recent lessons
Rather than making bold predictions, Norris stressed that the team's confidence is balanced by the reality that not every upgrade introduced this year has produced the desired gains.
"Just wait and see on the upgrade. We want to be optimistic about it. We want to be confident and hope that it fixes some of our issues that we're currently struggling with and are limiting us.
"There's been a few upgrades this year that have maybe not worked exactly as we would have hoped, so I think we're just being a little bit more cautious on waiting to see if it works exactly as as we expect.
"If it does, then I think it certainly should give us a good boost and add a good amount of performance to the car."
The cautious tone reflects a season in which McLaren has occasionally needed time to fully unlock the potential of new parts, even as its overall development record has remained among the strongest on the grid.
Hungary offers solid proving ground
The Hungaroring has traditionally suited McLaren's strengths, giving Norris further reason to believe the combination of circuit characteristics and fresh hardware could produce a positive weekend.
"It's a track that we've typically performed well at in the past, so I'm hoping as a combination, it's a good track for us. Hoping that we can have a good weekend, so I’m look forward to it."
Team-mate Oscar Piastri is equally hopeful that the revised package, centred around a redesigned floor, will move McLaren closer to the front after encouraging signs during the Belgian Grand Prix.
"We’ll find out tomorrow. I think we should be a bit more competitive," the Australian said.
"We’ve got a few upgrades this weekend, so hopefully that puts us a bit closer to being able to fight.
"I think at Spa, certainly in the race, we were probably a bit more competitive than we expected, so that was a good thing."
Friday's running at the Hungaroring will now provide McLaren with its first real opportunity to determine whether its long-awaited upgrade package can translate cautious optimism into a tangible step forward.
Read also: Piastri blasts F1 engine software: ‘It’s a crap way of going racing’
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