Lando Norris delivers harsh reality check as McLaren’s F1 struggles continue

Lando Norris admitted that McLaren is now only the fourth-fastest team in Formula 1 following his fifth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix. He crossed the line behind Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton at the Circuit of the Americas, while teammate Oscar Piastri finished seventh. Norris stated that while new upgrades are functioning, rivals are developing faster.

McLaren attempted an alternate one-stop strategy to gamble on a potential safety car, but Norris was ultimately overtaken by Verstappen on fresher tires late in the race. Team orders were also deployed to swap Norris ahead of Piastri. Consequently, Red Bull drew level with McLaren in the constructors' championship standings with five rounds remaining in the season.