Norris closing in on unwanted F1 record as he admits McLaren win fear
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The McLaren driver claimed his fourth consecutive podium with a second-place finish at the United States Grand Prix – following Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification – to take his rostrum career total to 12. That has placed him just one behind former BMW driver Heidfeld, who finished in runner-up spot eight times throughout his career and holds the undesirable record for most podiums without standing on the top step. McLaren’s impressive development in 2023 has enabled Norris to rack up six podiums so far this year, though a first victory continues to evade the 23-year-old Briton. Norris admitted after Sunday’s race in Austin that he fears McLaren have missed their “best chance” of winning a race this season.
“Do I think our best chances have gone? I would say yes,” Norris said. “I think Qatar was our best chance of winning a race. And I missed out on that one.”I don’t want to say no, I don’t say like never. I think there’s no super high speed, Suzuka-style, Qatar-style circuits left which is where we’re strong.“I don’t think they’re any good ones for us coming up. I think our best have gone.”I just want to be hopeful that we can do good results and I think we can still fight for podiums but these guys are too quick for me.”Norris added: “If you looked at the GPS overlays of how bad we are in the slow speed [areas], I’m not looking forward to Brazil. Related Ferrari own up to Leclerc ‘mistake’ that ruined F1 US ‘Double knock-on effect’ of Mercedes upgrade has renewed Hamilton’s confidence”I think we’re going to be pretty shocking there. Vegas and Abu Dhabi are probably the better ones.”Norris currently sits sixth in the drivers championship with four races to go, while McLaren have leapfrogged Aston Martin into fourth place in the constructors’ standings.
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