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“He’s Going to Win”: F1 Journalist Picks McLaren’s Deadlock Breaker Between Piastri & Norris

Published 09/19/2023, 9:45 AM EDT

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McLaren‘s team spirit and development pace have been the talk of the town as they unveiled their biggest upgrade since Austria at Singapore, a move that has evidently worked in their favor. Helping Lando Norris secure a P2 in the Singapore Grand Prix, the remarkable advancements brought about a tangible change, stirring optimistic conversations about Norris clinching a victory before the season draws to a close.

The team’s persistent efforts are clearly paying off, making every addition to the car a step toward success. Norris’s exhilaration must be palpable as the upgrades enhanced the car’s speed, fueling speculations of his imminent first win. The young Briton has been meticulously guarding his positions in the races, with keen eyes not just on safeguarding his spot but ambitiously eyeing the top position, says Tom Clarkson, who’s joined by former McLaren driver, Pedro de la Rosa on the latest episode of the F1 Nation podcast.

via Reuters

In the words of Ayrton Senna, “If you see a gap and you don’t go for it, you’re not a racing driver anymore,” Clarkson acknowledges McLaren’s impressive pace of development, crediting their strong team and successful series of upgrades for their recent achievements. While expressing optimism for Lando Norris’ chances to win a race before the year ends, he says, “The significant thing really about McLaren is that they came here with their biggest upgrade since Austria and it worked again. Everything they put on that car seems to make it quicker. Lando was thrilled. I think he’s going to win a race before the year’s out…

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Certainly, Oscar Piastri has also been quite close to Norris’ pace. Though when it comes to fighting for a win, Lando may have the upper hand in terms of previous experience (PS. Sochi 2021).

Although optimistic about overtaking Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship, they maintain a realistic view, acknowledging the efforts of other teams and foreseeing a decent wait before the Woking team fights at the front. In this backdrop of a performance graph surging upwards, the Singapore Grand Prix stands as testimony to McLaren’s spirit of tenacity, mirrored explicitly in Norris’ exhilarating P2 finish.

It was a race that saw Norris mirror a legend’s words, Ayrton Senna’s urging to seize the gap, to dare where others might hesitate. And dare he did, in a finale that bordered on catastrophic, yet brilliantly managed to leverage both skill and unity to snatch victory from the jaws of potential disaster.

Lando Norris cheats disaster in tense final lap of Singapore GP to Secure P2

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In a heart-pounding end to the Singapore Grand Prix, Lando Norris narrowly escaped what could have been a devastating crash in the race’s final moments to secure a P2 finish, crediting both skill and a little help from his friends on the circuit. The British driver revealed a close shave with disaster in the last lap, admitting to hitting the wall at the same point as compatriot George Russell did, albeit with less severe consequences.

via Imago

Norris confessed to the media, “I hit the wall in the last lap at the same place. I did the same and so I think he copied me and just did it even worse.” Though Russell was, according to Norris, the quickest on the track that day, his miscalculation cost him the race, allowing Norris a sigh of relief and a firm grip on the second spot on the podium.

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Norris’ gratitude extended to the collective efforts of the McLaren team, accentuating the notable performance of team member Oscar Piastri, who finished in a commendable seventh place after starting 17th on the grid. The harmonious collaboration showcased on the track augurs well for the McLaren team as they continue to build on their momentum and chase more podium finishes.

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Written by:

Pulkit Jai

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Pulkit is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports. With a strong academic background in engineering, he possesses an in-depth understanding of the intricate mechanics and technology driving Formula 1 racing. This expertise allows him to offer insightful analysis, exploring the technical aspects of the sport and shedding light on the innovative advancements that shape the world of F1.
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Edited by:

Aishwary Gaonkar