Lando Norris Stands Firm as McLaren's Major F1 Weakness Surfaces

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Highlights

Lando Norris finished seventh at Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
Oscar Piastri crashed out on opening lap after qualifying crash.
McLaren struggles with low downforce circuits like Baku and Italy.
Max Verstappen won Baku race with grand chelem, closing standings gap.
McLaren leads constructors’, drivers’ championship with Norris and Piastri top.
Team aims to fix downforce issues before remaining seven races.

Lando Norris defends McLaren after a bruising Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing seventh in Baku as a familiar weakness resurfaces on low-downforce layouts.

Oscar Piastri crashes out on lap one, compounding a qualifying accident and blunting McLaren’s weekend momentum in the title fight.

Norris finishes seventh as McLaren’s low-downforce deficit is exposed in Baku.

Max Verstappen dominates with a grand chelem, his second straight win. He now trails Piastri by 69 points, cutting 40 since the Dutch Grand Prix.

Lando Norris during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in Baku — Image Credit: The Guardian

Norris highlights the car’s efficiency shortfall when trimmed out. The MCL39 lacks the balance and straight-line punch needed with minimal wing.

McLaren shows flashes of speed in practice, but variable qualifying conditions elevate grid position. Track position proves decisive on Sunday.

Verstappen completes a grand chelem to tighten the championship picture.

Across 2025, McLaren excels on medium and high-downforce tracks. Baku joins Italy and Las Vegas as recurring pain points under low-drag demands.

McLaren garage and engineers during a challenging Formula 1 weekend — Image Credit: RacingNews365

Seven races remain, and McLaren still leads both championships. The margin, however, faces pressure as Red Bull capitalizes on efficiency circuits.

Singapore should favour higher downforce, offering McLaren a reset. Norris urges targeted gains to sharpen low-drag performance without sacrificing strengths.

McLaren targets incremental fixes before Singapore to stabilise the title push.

The strategic task is clear: protect tyre management and cornering load, while finding drag cuts that preserve stability. Execution under parc fermé constraints remains pivotal.

Red Bull’s package thrives on efficiency and straight-line speed. McLaren must translate updates into predictable balance when the wings come off.

Red Bull’s trajectory and future plans are examined in Verstappen Red Bull 2026, while McLaren’s innovative ideas feature in McLaren Mermaid Tails.

For broader context across disciplines, see this overview of the types of motorsports and how differing demands shape development priorities.

McLaren still tops both championships, but efficiency tracks narrow its buffer.

Visual Summary

Verstappen
Grand Chelem

Norris:
7th Place

Piastri
Crash

McLaren’s Weakness:

Low Downforce

MCL39 struggles at low downforce tracks
(Italy, Las Vegas, Baku)

Q
Piastri crashes in Baku qualifying

🏁
Piastri retires lap 1

1st
Verstappen Baku Grand Chelem

McLaren leads the title fight
but must solve their downforce dilemma 🏆

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.