Christian Horner predicts Lando Norris’s McLaren will be a contender in 2024

McLaren have grabbed 9 podiums, which is the second highest for a team after Red Bull.

Christian Horner predicts Lando Norris’s McLaren will be a contender in 2024

Lando Norris and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

Christian Horner, the Red Bull Racing chief, believes that McLaren and Lando Norris will be strong contenders for them in the 2024 season if they maintain their current form. Norris earned praise from Horner for showcasing his talents by challenging World Champion Max Verstappen. Horner’s comments suggest that McLaren’s resurgence is catching the attention of the entire racing community.

During the Brazilian GP, Norris and Verstappen were seen trading the fastest laps. They remained evenly matched in the Sprint race’s early stages, too, showcasing McLaren’s competitiveness. A significant factor behind McLaren’s resurgence is their substantial car development progress. Despite a modest start to the 2023 season, McLaren has made substantial improvements, positioning them as strong competitors to Red Bull and Verstappen. This progress bodes well for their prospects in the upcoming 2024 season.

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Horner acknowledged the competitive puddle behind the Red Bull, where the ranking of the second-best car has been fluctuating between Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Regarding this, he stated, as reported by Pitdebrief:

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It's been different people at different times during the year. I think we just keep focusing on ourselves, and whoever's behind us on the timesheet is almost irrelevant. So long as we're at the top of it, that's what we focus on.

Horner then talked about McLaren’s recent races. He said McLaren has been our closest rival in the last few races. He also noted McLaren’s consistency, adding their car has been very reliable, especially in the latter part of the year. If they keep it up, they could be a strong competitor next year.

Christian Horner claims the Brazilian GP battle was a “cat and mouse game” for Lando Norris and Max Verstappen

When discussing the race in Brazil, Christian Horner reflected on the intense battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. He noted that Norris made a strategic move by opting for his best set of tires at the beginning of the race, which gave him his best opportunity to challenge Verstappen. Horner expressed his relief that Max managed to maintain his lead at the end of the first lap.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen duelling at the Brazilian GP
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen duelling at the Brazilian GP. (Credits: Planet F1)

Horner also discussed the tactical aspects of the race, emphasizing the importance of tire management and the challenge of not stressing the tires too much. The Briton said: 

But then it becomes a game of cat and mouse because it's about looking after the tires and not stressing them too much. You are telling the driver to look after the tires, but pull out a gap — and the tow here is pretty powerful.

In terms of strategy, Horner mentioned that the decision to pit at the same time introduced a moment of uncertainty for the teams, as they found themselves on a similar race strategy. He praised Max Verstappen’s performance, highlighting his ability to manage the race effectively, just as he did in the sprint race. Verstappen was able to extend his lead during the pit stop, ultimately achieving a lead of over five seconds.

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