Lando Norris arrives in Austin this week looking to rediscover some of the spark that carried him to the 2025 world title. The McLaren driver is focused on regaining momentum after a difficult stretch, with a clear message about responsibility and team commitment. The recent Singapore weekend left a mark as in the sprint, Norris made an aggressive move on teammate Oscar Piastri that ended with both cars compromised and valuable points lost.
He has owned it fully and speaking at McLaren’s United States Grand Prix preview he said: “I take responsibility for my mistakes, and I learn from them. This team is my motivation every weekend, and my aim is to repay the hard work everyone puts in by improving, making better decisions, and representing the team in the best way.” he said.
It is the message of a driver who knows results only count when he delivers on track. “Everything we do only matters if I perform well on the track,” he added. The MCL40 has been described by Norris himself as “mentally draining” and “a long way off” the front-runners at times. Early-season promise, including wins in Hungary and the Netherlands, has given way to tougher results. He currently sits sixth in the championship on 201 points, well clear of Piastri but a long way from the Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell who dominate the standings. Red Bull has closed the constructors’ gap dramatically in recent races, putting extra pressure on McLaren to respond.
Lando Norris looks for a stronger weekend as McLaren returns to Austin
Austin has always been a track that rewards confidence and precision. The Circuit of the Americas mixes long straights with a demanding sequence of corners that can punish any car that is not perfectly balanced.
McLaren is bringing a modest package of upgrades focused on braking feel and floor performance, hoping the characteristics of COTA suit them better than the recent street circuits. Norris has spoken openly about the need for better decisions and cleaner execution.
The Singapore incident appears to have been closed internally after further talks at the factory. Whether the momentum returns this weekend remains to be seen. The field is tight, the competition fierce, and the MCL40 still has its limitations. Norris has made it clear that he is treating every session as a chance to improve, make smarter calls, and repay the people around him.
