The tussle at McLaren has turned into an extremely fascinating watch during the 2024 F1 season. Oscar Piastri has had the upper hand over Lando Norris in recent races but despite this, the Ex-Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has backed Norris to secure the victory at the Singapore GP.
After Friday’s Marina Bay practice sessions, it is quite clear that the Woking-based McLaren has the pace around the 4.94 km track. Lando Norris even topped Free Practice two ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Guenther Steiner genuinely feels Norris will be the strongest driver this weekend.
I would say the English papaya makes a comeback you know, Lando gets his comeback!Guenther Steiner via the Red Flags podcast
In Baku, Norris’s race was ruined following a Q1 exit. McLaren left things for late in the session and because of the yellow flags, the 24-year-old was not able to get in a banker lap to go-ahead into Q2. The Brit will have to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen again during today’s qualifying.
Lando Norris feels McLaren is in a ‘good place’ ahead of Marina Bay qualifying
While Guenther Steiner has openly backed Lando Norris to triumph in the Singapore GP, the latter himself is very optimistic. Following FP1 and FP2, Norris believes that his team is in a good place ahead of the all-important qualifying.
That was a nice lap from me, not a lot more in it. I feel like I got a lot out of Friday. Normally I prefer not being so good and having a little bit extra going into Saturday but a good start, we're in a good place.Lando Norris sais post practice
LN4: “That was a nice lap from me, not a lot more in it . I feel like I got a lot out of Friday. Normally I prefer not being so good and having a little bit extra going into Saturday but a good start, we’re in a good place.”
— McLaren News | 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 (@McLarenF1_News) September 20, 2024
Since the last few races, McLaren’s MCL38 has been out and out flying on the racing tracks. Piastri and Norris have been making good use of this and have thus, managed to get the papaya outfit leading the standings in the constructors’ championship.
From Norris’s perspective, he is still in the running for the coveted driver’s championship. He is currently 59 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. However, with the latter struggling around Marina Bay, the Singapore GP could prove to be the best opportunity for the Brit to massively close down the gap to the Dutchaman.