Norris: McLaren 'a long way behind' Mercedes after Austrian GP

Lando Norris delivered a blunt assessment of McLaren's predicament after finishing seventh at the Austrian Grand Prix, conceding the reigning world champion remains well adrift of Mercedes despite both teams running identical power units. George Russell's commanding victory and four-tenth pole advantage laid bare the scale of the deficit, with Norris trailing by over 30 seconds on an afternoon where the MCL40 never threatened a sustained front-running challenge.

Why it matters:

McLaren's struggles serve as a reality check for a squad that entered the season defending a championship. With Norris carrying the number one, the Woking-based team's inability to match Mercedes' race pace or qualify within striking distance exposes deep-rooted chassis and aerodynamic shortcomings that leave them scrapping for minor points rather than fighting for victories.

The details:

• Norris described the MCL40 as "incredibly difficult to drive," citing persistent balance issues and severe tyre degradation that have undermined the team throughout the 2026 campaign.
• Teammate Oscar Piastri fared better in fourth place but still lacked the pace to challenge Russell, confirming the deficit exists across both sides of the garage.
• Ferrari also endured a difficult afternoon despite arriving with upgraded hardware and momentum from Lewis Hamilton's Barcelona victory, struggling with a lack of straight-line speed that forced excessive cornering speeds and further tyre strain.
• Norris admitted McLaren has made no tangible progress on the underlying handling problems, stating the team "still have the same struggles" and simply need more time to improve the package.

What's next:

Formula 1 heads to Silverstone next week for the British Grand Prix, where McLaren faces mounting pressure to show signs of recovery on home soil. Norris made clear that no quick fix exists, and with Mercedes establishing itself as the clear benchmark, time is running short for the defending champions to turn their season around.