The dust has barely settled on what has been a thrilling race at the Baku City Circuit, as Max Verstappen picked off the two papaya drivers by winning another race, surprising the two McLaren drivers and the team from Woking.
Already, the narrative at McLaren is taking an intriguing turn.
Yes, Lando Norris, is a prodigious talent often lauded as a future world champion, is finding himself in an unfamiliar position.
His teammate, and much younger Oscar Piastri, the rookie sensation, is not just keeping pace but, in recent races, has shown a remarkable ability to extract maximum performance, sometimes even outshining the more experienced Briton, which, despite the smiles, it can't be easy for Lando to watch and must be resulting in sleepless nights.
I am not saying that Norris is underperforming in any of the races; he has been consistent and on form, but to bring the fight to the front-runners and establish himself as the clear team leader, Lando needs to find another gear.
But there is another spike in the spokes that is rewriting the narrative, and that spike is the Dutch four-time world champion. Who is stealing races from the two drivers and has picked the pocket of McLaren in the last two races?
The Upcoming Gauntlet: A Managerial Masterclass Required
- Singapore: A gruelling night race, intensely physical for the drivers, and a massive test of car reliability and strategy under safety car conditions.
- Austin (COTA): A modern classic with a mix of high-speed corners and technical sections.
- Mexico City: High altitude, low downforce – a unique challenge for engines and cooling.
- Brazil (Interlagos): Often unpredictable weather, a passionate crowd, and a track known for thrilling races.
- Las Vegas: A brand new street circuit, under lights, adding an extra layer of unknowns.
- Qatar: A circuit that is famous for overtakes and even surprises.
- Abu Dhabi: A circuit that never disappoints and is anyone's to win, especially if Max Verstappen is taking wins and points.
Each of these races presents its own unique set of problems and opportunities.
For Lando, this means delivering consistently. No off-weekends, no missed opportunities. He needs to embrace the pressure and convert it into performance.
If he can step up and clearly establish his dominance over Piastri, and if McLaren can navigate this gruelling schedule without major hiccups, then they can sustain their championship challenge deep into the season.
The talent is there, the car is competitive, but now comes the actual test.
Can Lando Norris find that extra gear, and can McLaren execute a near-perfect run through this demanding schedule?
The following seven races will tell us everything we need to know.
What are your predictions for McLaren in this upcoming brutal stretch?
Can Lando rise to the occasion? Share your thoughts below!
For us here at Senate Grand Prix, we think it's going to be a battle to take us directly through to a showdown at Sunset at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Still, for me, the races in between with the supreme talent that is Max Verstappen could disrupt the narrative that Zak Brown is carefully trying to write.
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