Lando Norris opens up about the ongoing tension between McLaren’s Zak Brown and Red Bull’s Christian Horner.
- Lando assures that McLaren doesn’t consider Red Bull as the enemy, despite the current competitive climate.
- Zak Brown’s past criticisms stem from Red Bull’s financial breaches in 2021, heating up recent conflicts.
- Norris credits McLaren’s consistent performance but admits they’ve lacked domination on race weekends.
- The British Grand Prix saw Norris softening his stance on Red Bull after a clash with Verstappen.
Lando Norris, a key figure in McLaren’s racing team, shared his views on the rift between Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, and Christian Horner of Red Bull. Despite the tension, Norris remains clear that while they are competitors, there’s no animosity from his side towards Red Bull.
Zak Brown’s critical position towards Red Bull isn’t new. It dates back to 2021 when Red Bull faced a minor breach of financial regulations, leading to penalties. These past events have resurfaced, becoming more intense as McLaren challenges Red Bull on the track this year.
The situation heightened with a collision between Norris and Max Verstappen in Austria. Initially, Norris and McLaren were vocal about their frustration, but by the British Grand Prix, Norris had taken a more diplomatic approach, even as Brown accused Red Bull of disrespecting racing regulations.
Brown’s comments indicate his belief that Red Bull is wary of Verstappen’s prowess, criticizing Horner for actions he deems inappropriate. Brown stated, “I only respond to things when I think they’re not right… because he says and does stuff I think is wrong.”
Norris’s reflections on McLaren’s performance this season point to strong consistency rather than outright dominance. He acknowledges only one or two race weekends where McLaren might have had the best car, adding that strategic missteps often cost them potential wins.
Despite occasional lapses, Norris commends McLaren for their reliability and the ability to seize opportunities, stressing the importance of minimizing errors. He remains optimistic yet realistic about the team’s need to overcome certain challenges, like high tire degradation and strategic decisions in high-speed tracks.
As McLaren continues to improve, Norris looks forward to the day when they can confidently claim to be the strongest team over an entire race weekend. For now, it’s about acknowledging their strengths, working on weaknesses, and keeping a consistent presence in the competitive landscape.
Norris’s perspective underscores a commitment to competition while navigating team tensions with a focus on consistent performance.
