Lando Norris buoyed by McLaren's current impressive form

McLaren driver Lando Norris has delivered a string of strong results in recent weeks, and he hopes that his team will maintain its current form which will allow him to fight for further wins in the remainder of the season.

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris secured his first F1 victory earlier this year at the Miami Grand Prix. The Briton has come close to clinch further victories in Imola and Canada, but he was ultimately beaten by reigning world champion Max Verstappen in both rounds.

Despite having lost a potential victory in Montreal two weeks ago, Norris said that he is buoyed by his car MCL38's performance and enjoys being in contention for victories.

“It’s great to be back in Europe after a successful Canadian GP for us. We were close to another win, but I’m happy to get another podium and important points for the team. It’s a great place to be in, fighting for wins, and it makes me really excited for the rest of the season. We know we’ve got a little bit of work to do to ensure we’re winning more regularly, but we’re moving in the right direction.

“Last week I was back at the MTC to see the team and prepare for Barcelona. I always enjoy going to Spain, there’s always a great atmosphere from the fans and it’s an amazing city.

"The track has its challenges with a real mix of slow and high-speed corners, but I think we’re in a good position to maximise our performance and get the most out of the car. We’ve got our eyes on the prize, let’s go," noted Norris.

His team-mate Oscar Piastri has significantly improved his performance for the current season. The Australian has displayed eye-catching performances in qualifying, and he has also improved his race pace after having worked on tyre management over the winter.

Piastri finished fifth in Canada, but he was in contention for the victory, but he ultimately dropped down the order after Mercedes elected to fit Lewis Hamilton and George Russell's car with fresh tyres during the last safety car period.

“Canada was another strong weekend for the team and I was pleased to continue a productive run of results from Imola and Monaco. It’s a nice feeling to be consistently fighting at the front and being in the mix for the big prizes.

“I’ve had some decent performances in Barcelona in the junior categories and the car feels in a good place thanks to all the hard work put in by the whole team. I’m looking forward to touching down in Spain," noted Piastri.

Team boss Andrea Stella expects rivals teams to bring upgrades for the Spanish Grand Prix, but hopes that McLaren can maintain its competitiveness in the opening round of the first triple header of 2024.

“We now head to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix. It’s the start of a busy European season with a triple header. It’s a lot of work for the drivers and the entire team to keep up the momentum for three races in a row, but we are energised by our recent performance and results.

“While we’re confident that the MCL38 can perform on merit at different types of tracks, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will still offer a unique challenge. More teams are bringing upgrades, so it’s important for us to keep our focus and make every weekend count.”