Can McLaren Catch Mercedes? Lando Norris Encouraged by Miami Progress

Following a critical turning point in its season, boosted by upgrades introduced last time out, reigning world champion Lando Norris believes McLaren can build on its strong Miami showing at the Canadian Grand Prix at what he describes as “a track that suits us”.

Norris starred at the Miami Grand Prix, ending Mercedes’ dominance in 2026 by taking Sprint victory ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. He then backed up that performance with his first grand prix podium of the season, finishing behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Further strengthened by Piastri’s impressive performance in Japan before Formula 1’s enforced April break, McLaren has once again emerged as the second-strongest team behind championship leaders Mercedes.

That marks a stark contrast to the opening three rounds, which included a double DNF for both McLaren drivers in China due to unrelated power-unit failures, while Piastri also suffered a reconnaissance-lap crash at his home grand prix to begin the season.

Norris, who before Miami stated that “we still want to push hard for the championship”, expressed confidence about McLaren’s prospects heading into Montreal.

“Certainly. I think you’d have to feel silly if you don’t feel confident about the future when we improved so much this weekend,” the reigning world champion said in Miami.

“We also know it’s a track that suits us. I’m always that guy that looks at things on the slightly more glass-half-empty side, but this is a track that suits us and in the past has not suited the Mercedes quite so well.

“Yet they were still very fast, and we’re going to go to a track that Mercedes have probably been the best at over the last five, six years. So, we have to wait and see.”

Mercedes is expected to bring significant upgrades to its dominant W17 package for the Canadian Grand Prix, with both Antonelli and teammate George Russell firmly ahead in the championship standings.

Returning to Montreal will also bring mixed emotions for Norris, who was involved in a controversial collision with teammate and then-title rival Piastri there last year, costing both drivers a potential podium finish. Ironically, Russell went on to inherit victory for Mercedes.

The 26-year-old also added: “I know we’re bringing upgrades, but in Formula 1 it’s too easy to judge things over one race.

“You need to see how you are over a number of races and different styles of track: street circuits, hot tracks, cold tracks, tight and twisty, fast circuits.

“So, there’s no point getting ahead of ourselves. We’ve had a very good weekend, I’m very proud of the team, but I also want to make sure they keep pushing and keep trying to improve things, because we still need that.”

McLaren remains third in the constructors’ championship, but trails Ferrari by only 16 points. Norris sits fourth in the drivers’ standings, 49 points behind Antonelli, while Piastri is sixth on 43 points.

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Written by

Jawad Yaqub

An eCommerce Specialist by day and reporting on F1 by night. Jawad is passionate about motorsport, having provided accredited F1 coverage for more than a decade. Live blogging (almost) every grand prix too since 2014, as well as articles on the Supercars Championship. Also keen on sustainability, photography, collecting vinyl, (trying to) expertly barbeque and learning to Dad.

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