Lando Norris, McLaren, Circuit of the Americas, 2019

Norris: McLaren closer to front-runners than ever now

RaceFans Round-up

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In the round-up: Lando Norris says the United States Grand Prix was McLaren’s best performance yet compared to the front-runners.

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What they say

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Norris was asked if he was surprised to pass Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari at the start of the race at the Circuit of the Americas:

Well, they started on mediums and I guess it’s always a slight disadvantage.

But this weekend we’ve been the closest ever to the pace of the front-runners. Carlos [Sainz Jnr] was eight tenths off and I was one second off so our relative. The gap’s coming down slightly and that gives us the opportunity to do something like this.

So it wasn’t like we just got them off the line. It was on the first lap but still it was not just by getting lucky. It was [that] we had a slight pace advantage being on the softer tyre and I made the most of that.

So it was good fun. I mean, that’s what we like doing. And it’s even better knowing we’re in a much slower car and we’re getting past the Ferrari. So I’m happy we’re making steady progress, but it’s it’s rewarding to see something like that.

Quotes: Dieter Rencken

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Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

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Comment of the day

Congratulations to this weekend’s Caption Competition winner, @Ninjenius:

Carlos Sainz Jnr, McLaren, Circuit of the Americas, 2019

Carlos and Lando regretted playing football so close to the parked cars.
@Ninjenius

Thanks to everyone who joined in last weekend, particularly EuroBrun, Sjoerd Druiven and DV for their great suggestions.

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On this day in F1

  • Born on this day in 1926: Maria Theresa de Filippis, the first woman to start an F1 race, who did so at the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix driving a Maserati 250F

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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12 comments on “Norris: McLaren closer to front-runners than ever now”

  1. georgeboole
    11th November 2019, 0:17

    Let’s see. Should I use a VPN to make my comments appear?

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      Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
      11th November 2019, 7:48

      Maybe try say something funny.
      I’m sure no other manufacturer would have allowed what toyota is going through right now, that said come LeMans they’ll change the rules again.

      F1 has been degrading more and more but wec comes in and says hold my glass. As soon as the toyota gets 400m down a straight it goes into gt mode, le mans style racing ridiculous as ever. Speaking of ford vs ferrari film, at least back then even though Ford changed the rules, Ferrari and other manufacturers could have spent the money and develop a 7 litre engine, surely a lot quicker in the straights than a 4 litre.

  2. Biggsy
    11th November 2019, 0:29

    LMAO “closer than ever”
    I’m pretty sure they were closer 5 years ago. :)

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      Stash (@stash)
      11th November 2019, 6:14

      Norris said the word “we’ve” in his statement. So since he has been in the team he is absolutely correct. I’ll leave it at that.

  3. Micah
    11th November 2019, 0:33

    Closer than front-runners is nothing to boast about when you’re still 1 second or more slower than Merc. Compared to last year when they were 1.5 seconds off the pace it is an improvement but nothing to celebrate.

  4. JC
    11th November 2019, 1:46

    Wow. That prancing horse video. Just…. wow.

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      socksolid (@socksolid)
      11th November 2019, 13:48

      Rich people hobbies.

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    Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
    11th November 2019, 5:25

    Daniel has a 2nd career waiting for him when he hangs up the racing boots. Racing commentator, probably. However, most watched movie critic is certain. ;-)

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      ColdFly (@)
      11th November 2019, 7:49

      Baby Driver. Is that Lando Norris?

  6. Profile Photo

    Tristan (@skipgamer)
    11th November 2019, 5:25

    Check out race 29 from Sandown, the steward responsible apologised for a poor decision. F1 could only be so lucky… If they never admit mistakes then they can never learn and put in place proper standards.

  7. Profile Photo

    Jere (@jerejj)
    11th November 2019, 7:28

    That Ricciardo-video is from October 30, so not quite fresh anymore, and that’s why I found seeing the thumbnail and link to it above weird. I watched that ahead of the last race earlier in the day. Nevertheless, I might give a chance to some of the movies he reviews in that video, maybe during the off-season period.

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      ColdFly (@)
      11th November 2019, 7:50

      Round-up has long moved beyond being fresh.

      Off now to listen to my broken record collection.

Comments are closed.