Norris assesses title chances compared to Mercedes duo

Lando Norris has admitted that his McLaren lacks the consistency to challenge for the title this season, noting that George Russell remains the primary rival to championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Despite two victories, Norris sits 96 points behind Antonelli, who has been in dominant form, including a recent win at Monza. Norris highlighted that while the McLaren performs well on specific circuits, it lacks the overall pace required at every venue compared to the Mercedes pairing. He acknowledged that Russell, currently 30 points ahead of him, is the best-placed driver to contend for the championship title against his teammate Antonelli. Looking ahead to the inaugural Madrid Grand Prix, Norris expressed excitement about the challenging new circuit, which features varied camber and elevation changes. While he adjusted quickly in the simulator, he noted that the true nature of the track and the sense of speed will only be realized once practice begins on Friday. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri also shared his thoughts, emphasizing the difficulty of the Madrid track. He highlighted that the combination of high-speed corners, track banking, and the need to use kerbs will make finding the right car setup and compromise particularly demanding for the drivers.