It’s Formula 1, where a second feels like an eternity, two years can be a lifetime. That’s why McLaren and its faithful fans had every reason to erupt in a mix of joy and relief during the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. After all, witnessing both their boys on the podium isn’t something they’ve tasted since that Monza magic from yesteryears. Lando Norris, with a twinkle in his eye and perhaps thinking of an early sushi celebration, declared cheekily post-race, “We’re coming for Red Bull.”

The Norris charm was in full swing, especially with teammate Oscar Piastri basking in the afterglow of his first F1 podium. Quite the Sunday drive, lads! When asked by Tom Clarkson to draw a comparison between his P2 this week and his performance last week, Norris responded with a relaxed chuckle and said…

“From a team side of things, yes, I’m much happier. This is our first double podium since Monza a few years back. And this time, it’s like we almost deserved it. We didn’t need luck. We were there on pure pace.”

Though he candidly admitted he couldn’t give Max a run for his money, with Max seemingly in the lead for what Lando amusingly described as “maybe half a second”, he took pride in the fact that McLaren’s performance was genuine. He added, “In a way, it feels better. The pace was strong, I could push, and we were right where we deserved to be. A hearty pat on the back for the whole team!”

With the paddock buzzing, one thing’s for sure – McLaren’s got their groove back. And while we don’t have a crystal ball, the boys in orange seem to be hinting at more podium parties on the horizon. Watch this space!

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Following that spirited acknowledgment from Lando and Piastri, the F1 atmosphere has been electric. The roars, the elation, the contagious energy–and right at the center of this whirlwind is the McLaren team. Their performance at Suzuka didn’t just evoke nostalgia; it heralded a renewed promise.

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What seems like a renaissance tale for the McLaren F1 team, Lando Norris is feeling the adrenaline more than ever. Fresh off a sensational double-podium finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, Norris couldn’t help but share his infectious enthusiasm: The Woking-based outfit is revving to rewrite their recent history in the F1 circuit. Lando Norris’s back-to-back second-place triumphs in the Singapore-Japan doubleheader aren’t just individual victories.

It reflects a surging McLaren, snapping at the heels of the race behemoth, Red Bull. The tally is impressive; Norris has been the runner-up four times this year, equaling Sergio Perez’s count. But Norris is quick to add, “We’re beating one of them already, just not the faster one.” A less-than-ideal season start is now a distant memory. As Norris aptly concludes, “It’s only been one year of a good amount of progress and we know a lot of things to come. So I’m excited for the future.”

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The lad’s optimism isn’t isolated. Bernie Collins of Sky Sports F1 shares in the excitement, lauding the team’s fantastic turnaround. She highlights the relentless efforts of the team and the strategic vision of McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown. With state-of-the-art wind tunnels and simulators in the pipeline, Collins bets on McLaren to “continue to get stronger.”

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And with that, Formula 1 fans, buckle up! The McLaren surge promises a thrilling showdown in the seasons to come.