Lando Norris is operating in "the sweet spot" this year, according to 2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg, even as his hopes of defending his title fade. The McLaren driver's performances have been nothing short of spectacular.
Norris entered the season as the reigning champion, having clinched the title in a dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi last year over Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri. However, McLaren has struggled to replicate its consistent winning form, with the MCL40 lacking pace in the first half of the campaign.
Rosberg pointed to McLaren's adaptation to a new power unit as a customer team as the main reason for their slow start. “Not only was the car missing at the beginning of the season, but I think they also needed time to get used to the power unit,” he told media including RacingNews365. “That's a disadvantage when you're a customer to the power unit. It takes more time to get the hang of it.”
Despite the car's struggles, Norris has been the stronger performer at McLaren, often outperforming his teammate. Any hope of catching Kimi Antonelli for the championship lead appears slim, as he currently sits 106 points behind the Italian. However, Rosberg insists Norris can take pride in his displays.
“But now Lando, he's world champion,” Rosberg said. “That gives more confidence. He's not the favourite for the championship this year either. That makes you more relaxed because you're not the hunted, but you're the hunter. He's really in the sweet spot at the moment, and he's driving as well as ever. It's unbelievable to watch, the level that he's at out there at the moment.”
McLaren has shown signs of recovery with two wins in the last four rounds, and a third was on the cards in Madrid until a poorly timed virtual safety car. With the car now more competitive, Norris and McLaren are determined to close the gap and finish the season strongly.
Baca Juga
Red Bull mengakui masalah degradasi performa mobil F1 Max Verstappen tidak bisa diperbaiki hingga 2027. Simak analisis lengkapnya.
Charles Leclerc mengungkap alasan tak meniru gaya balap Lewis Hamilton saat kesulitan dengan mobil Ferrari SF-26 di F1 2026. Simak analisisnya.
Mercedes dan Aston Martin bertarung di laga amal tahunan. Tim putra Mercedes menang 3-1, tim putri Aston Martin menang 2-1. Simak kisahnya.
Lanjutkan dengan Google
Diskusi & Komentar (0)
Mari Bergabung dalam Diskusi!
Masuk dengan mudah untuk mulai memberikan komentar, membalas, dan berinteraksi dengan pembaca lainnya.
Komentar Terbaru
Belum ada komentar. Jadilah yang pertama!