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As anticipation builds for the 2025 British Grand Prix, home hero Lando Norris has lifted the lid on a critical weakness in McLaren’s arsenal that could threaten their race-day prospects. Despite a strong showing in qualifying, the 25-year-old Briton has expressed concerns over McLaren’s straight-line speed deficit compared to Red Bull — a shortfall that could prove costly at the high-speed Silverstone circuit.
Lando Norris satisfied with qualifying, cautious about race day
After a solid qualifying performance that placed him third on the grid behind Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris reflected on the session with satisfaction.
“As smooth as I could probably ask for,” Norris said. “Most of my laps were all pretty decent... Probably my final one, would have hoped to find just a little bit more. Just didn’t quite get the grip out of it in some corners, and the right balance, but I’m still happy with third.”
Lando Norris, who has been his own toughest critic in the 2025 season, acknowledged the positive progress but quickly turned the spotlight onto the bigger challenge lying ahead — race pace and strategy.
Straight-line struggles: McLaren’s Achilles heel
Norris did not mince words when analyzing McLaren’s comparative weakness. Speaking to the media post-qualifying, he made a candid revelation about how McLaren stacks up against Red Bull on the straights — and the picture isn’t ideal.
“To be honest, at the minute, it’s like our DRS speed probably just about matches Max’s speed,” Lando Norris admitted.
“We’ll probably catch in the high speed. We just won’t really close much when you open the DRS.”
With Red Bull’s RB21 known for its aerodynamic efficiency and straight-line speed, the McLaren driver is bracing for a tough battle, especially at a track like Silverstone that rewards top-end performance.
Silverstone layout exposes McLaren’s weaknesses
The Silverstone circuit, with its blend of iconic high-speed corners and extended straights, is unforgiving to cars lacking in pure pace. Norris acknowledged that McLaren has excelled at medium- and low-speed circuits this season, but Silverstone’s characteristics could lay bare their vulnerabilities.
“We’ve performed very well in the slower- and medium-speed tracks... but we always seem to lose out to Max and the Red Bull [at high-speed tracks],” he said.
“Here is definitely high speed, and it’s probably highlighted a few more of our weaknesses.”
Strategic play and weather may help
Despite the concern, Lando Norris remains optimistic. He hinted that variable conditions and strategic flexibility could shake things up on Sunday.
“I think it can be tough, but there’s also probably more opportunities than a normal race... The threat of rain and different strategies can make it interesting,” he noted.
With McLaren’s tactical sharpness and Norris’ determination, the team may yet overcome their top-speed handicap in front of a home crowd hungry for success.
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