McLaren and rivals ‘stunned’ by Lando Norris’ tempo in second-place end at British Grand Prix

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Highlights from the British GP at Silverstone, as Max Verstappen secured a sixth consecutive race win

McLaren “stunned” themselves with the spectacular race tempo that enabled Lando Norris to seal second on the British Grand Prix, workforce principal Andrea Stella has admitted after their Silverstone exhibiting.

McLaren triggered a shock on Saturday as Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri took benefit of the workforce’s closely upgraded automotive to qualify second and third, respectively, behind world championship chief Max Verstappen.

Nonetheless, scepticism had remained over whether or not McLaren would be capable of preserve that tempo over race distance, with many anticipating the Ferrari and Mercedes vehicles lined up instantly behind them on the grid to be faster.

That was shortly disproved as Norris, who held the lead for the opening few laps after beating Verstappen off the road, and Piastri have been capable of draw back from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth.

Piastri was vastly unlucky to lose third to Lewis Hamilton because the Brit was capable of pit underneath a Security Automobile, however the rookie took a career-best fourth, whereas Norris impressively held off the Mercedes to take second.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

McLaren boss Zak Brown was thrilled after Lando Norris completed second and Oscar Piastri got here fourth on the British Grand Prix

“Properly clearly the indications from the race are fairly encouraging,” Stella stated.

“We have been stunned ourselves within the first stint to have the ability to preserve our opponents like Ferrari and Mercedes behind, we thought they’d be an issue for us when it comes to tempo.

“So I feel we’ve to acknowledge that the advance appears to be real right here when it comes to race tempo.”

Stella ‘hopes Russell is true’ about McLaren pace

McLaren had first introduced the primary stage of their newest bundle of upgrades to final weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, however solely had sufficient elements for Norris’ automotive.

The Brit took full benefit to take fourth in Spielberg, which has satisfied Mercedes driver George Russell, who completed fifth at Silverstone, that their enhancements will present at varied circuits.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

McLaren’s Lando Norris was in constructive spirits after ending second in his dwelling race at Silverstone

“These McLarens have simply come from nowhere, so I do not actually know what to assume,” Russell stated.

“I hope it is a one-off, however they have been fast in Austria as effectively, which is a very completely different circuit. Regardless, it’s totally spectacular what they’ve executed.”

Stella, who took over as McLaren workforce principal firstly of the season and has overseen main adjustments to their management construction, is remaining cautious over their prospects.

“On the subject of whether or not this enchancment will present itself sooner or later, even when George says that the tracks are completely different, really I feel there are vital parts of commonality between Austria and Silverstone,” he stated.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Lando Norris leads the British GP after the opening lap, having overtaken Max Verstappen

“Particularly, there is a excessive density of corners during which we all know that our automotive performs effectively. And circumstances like right now, they do assist, as a result of they do not overheat the tyres, which can be one thing on which we’ve some work to do.”

However, with a smile, he added: “I hope George’s proper, by the way in which.”

Piastri, who was nonetheless driving with a barely much less up to date specification than Norris, additionally admitted he had feared the McLarens may go backwards in the course of the race.

“So clearly the upgrades are a large step ahead,” Piastri stated. “I feel they are a good step ahead over one lap. However the race tempo is clearly the place we have made a large bounce.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri face one another in an Ashes-inspired cricket match

“I feel going into the race, I used to be perhaps barely cautious that we’d hit reverse a bit of bit like we’ve executed beforehand, but when something, it was even stronger than Austria, in order that was tremendous thrilling.

“Yeah, it hurts a bit of bit to be P4, after we have been wanting on for a podium for thus lengthy and a bit unfortunate with the Security Automobile timing, however I am simply so glad that I am disillusioned with fourth place as a substitute of what we have been disillusioned with earlier within the season.”

Wolff: I used to be satisfied we’d be consuming up McLarens

The Security Automobile threatened to derail their sensible weekend as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton jumped to 3rd, and a questionable McLaren choice to place arduous tyres on Norris’ automotive for the ultimate stint left him uncovered to the seven-time world champion.

Nonetheless, Norris produced an unbelievable show of defence to carry off Hamilton, on smooth tyres, on the rolling restart, earlier than finally pulling clear.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have been left vastly impressed by the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, following the British GP at Silverstone

Mercedes workforce principal Toto Wolff admitted after the race that he had anticipated his vehicles to be “consuming up” the McLarens within the closing phases.

“To be trustworthy, when the Security Automobile was deployed, I used to be actually certain if not satisfied that we’d be consuming up the McLarens and end with a P2 and P3, or perhaps even problem for the entrance.

“So that you see simply how robust their automotive was. We may have had a go within the first few laps, however they each raced very robust, and with their effectivity and prime pace by way of the high-speed corners and on the straights, there was simply no approach of passing them.

“In order that got here as a shock.”

Hamlton: I had no concept how robust they have been

Hamilton additionally revealed he had anticipated it to be “troublesome” for Norris to maintain him at bay on the restart.

“I imply, simply understanding what it is wish to be on the hards on the restart on the finish with somebody on the softs behind, I knew that it could be troublesome,” the Mercedes driver stated.

“I hadn’t clearly had any working with a McLaren so I had no concept how robust they have been earlier on within the stint, or within the race.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton handled the Silverstone crowd to an epic battle, following the Security Automobile

“So it wasn’t till that second that I began to see a few of their strengths and them get stronger and stronger over the laps.

“I threw it up the within and I attempted to get previous however we’ve a bit of bit extra drag down the straights after which by way of the excessive pace, as I discussed, that is the place they have been simply murdering us.”

Verstappen, the one driver capable of reside with the tempo of the McLarens at Silverstone as he prolonged his world championship result in 99 factors, was additionally impressed.

After Norris beat the Dutchman off the road, Verstappen could not get again previous the McLaren till DRS was enabled, and even after that failed to drag away on the identical fee as he has executed towards different vehicles on a number of events this season.

“Every little thing was working fairly effectively but it surely was nonetheless fairly shocking to see that the McLaren was really that fast, or Lando was that fast, over the entire stint,” Verstappen stated.