Lando Norris has once again proven his worth on the Formula 1 circuit with a strong performance at the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris finished in a season-high fifth position, which was later upgraded to fourth due to a penalty for Carlos Sainz. The McLaren driver showcased his skills by overtaking Lewis Hamilton during the race, making a statement. With his newfound confidence and an upgraded McLaren, Norris now sets his sights on Silverstone, where he aims to dethrone none other than the seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, and claim the coveted title of “Top Brit.”

However, it soon became clear that the seven-time world champion was facing an onslaught of challenges at the Austrian Grand Prix. Instead of pressuring the Ferraris ahead of him, Lewis Hamilton had to contend with the marauding Lando Norris on his gearbox. Norris, driving for McLaren, made his presence known by radioing his team about Hamilton’s off-track excursions. With Norris closely monitoring Hamilton’s every move, the McLaren team wasted no time in raising the issue with the race director, highlighting the repeated instances of Hamilton going off the track.

Could Lando Norris be the new favorite at the Silverstone?

Looking ahead to the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Norris exudes confidence, believing he has the “good potential” to emerge as the leading British driver. McLaren, in a tribute to Hamilton’s era with the team, will be donning a one-off livery reminiscent of the iconic silver cars that graced the track during that time. The chrome-colored paintwork on the rear of the car pays homage to McLaren’s successful stint and is also a nod to one of the team’s sponsors.

Reflecting on his chances of outperforming Hamilton and his British Mercedes teammate George Russell at Silverstone, Norris draws hope from the successful aerodynamic upgrades introduced by McLaren in Austria. As covered by BBC Sport, Norris states “I would say [we have] good potential to compete against them again and for me to be top Brit. That would be a pretty cool thing to do at Silverstone.”

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With high-speed corners playing to McLaren’s strengths, Norris believes the team can once again challenge the dominance of Mercedes on the iconic Silverstone circuit. However, he acknowledges the strength of Mercedes in straight-line braking.

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During the Austrian GP, only Norris had access to the new upgrades, while his teammate Oscar Piastri continued using the older specification. The noticeable difference in performance throughout the weekend highlights the potential impact of these technical advancements. With McLaren’s one-off livery evoking the nostalgia of past glories, and the team’s recent competitive edge, all eyes will be on Lando Norris and his upgraded MCL60.

How did McLaren bounce back? 

McLaren made significant changes to various aspects of their car, resulting in improved performance at the Red Bull Ring. The most noticeable transformation was in the design of the sidepods, halo, car floor, and engine cover. The new bodywork featured wider sidepods with pronounced waterslides, a concept popularized by teams like Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Waterslides play a crucial role in directing clean air towards the diffuser and beam wing, increasing downforce and contributing to better cornering stability, ultimately resulting in faster lap times.

Furthermore, changes in the car’s floor design, which play a vital role in generating downforce, remain concealed from public view. McLaren implemented a support cable passing through the back of the bodywork to save weight and facilitate the new rear suspension design.

It seems with the ongoing upgrades and newfound momentum, McLaren is poised for a noteworthy shift in competitiveness, leaving behind their early-season setbacks.

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