The problem is localized: Lando Norris brought a defective oil line at the Netherlands Grand Prix. The Briton rolled out a few laps before the end with smoke development – a preliminary diagnosis initially indicated an engine problem.
However, McLaren has now confirmed that the cause is not with motor supplier Mercedes, but on a defective oil line, which falls into the area of responsibility of McLaren. The sensors in the car recognized the oil loss and automatically adjusted the engine to avoid consequential damage. McLaren is currently investigating the engine and has hopes that the unit can be used further.
The engineers localized the defective component, checked the cause of the damage and immediately implemented countermeasures. The affected management is reinforced so that such a break does not repeat itself.
The problem had led to speculation at short notice, not least because Mercedes drive units have occasionally shown problems this season. However, McLaren makes it clear that it is a chassis/component problem on the part of the factory team and not a failure of the Mercedes power unit.
Norris emphasizes: Over 60 races without defect
Lando Norris has been doing his first technically related failure since Sao Paulo 2022: “It just happens. It is not Andrea [Stellas] Guilt, not ZAK [Browns] Fault. We had over 60 races without a technical failure – we are proud of that. “
“The fact that it happens now is bad luck. Andrea and Zak apologized because they feel that way, but actually it is not their fault. We apologize to each other when we feel like we have let the other side down, but that’s how life is not.”
Of course, it is frustrating, he continues. “At the same time, the realization that it has nothing to do with me, it is relatively easy to check it off. If it had been a mistake from me, I would still be annoyed. It was just bad luck – what can I do? So I can leave it behind and look forward to the next race.”
Nevertheless, it cannot be negated that his chances of title have suffered a strong damper. 36 points behind team -mate Oscar Piatri are theoretically to be kept on your own. However, not much indicates that he hits the Australian regularly from now on. The longest winning streak of this season is in a row with three triumphs.
When asked whether the failure has a decisive time damaged, Norris replies combative, but with a sporting attitude:
“If he ends up doing better work, I pay respect for him,” says the 25-year-old on this topic. “I don’t want something to happen to him. I want to get the best out of myself.”
No magical lever killed
And he remains combative: “I can win the championship even without incident – so I want it. May the best driver win at the end. If I lose because of these points, I will not give up and try again.”
However, he knows himself that he has to increase. Even if he should start a winning streak, after five races he would only have come to the Australian one point. Piatri would therefore travel to Sao Paulo in early November as the league leader (the sprint race in Austin).
Norris primarily wants to increase on Saturday: “It is more about that I just have to be at the forefront in more qualifying.
“But I can’t do much more because I have the feeling that I already give everything I can. It is not that it has now been a trigger that I can do more.” There will be no performance explosion like at Lewis Hamilton in the last four races in the 2021 World Cup.
With his personal performance, he is at pure, he adds. “But here minimal differences can have a very big impact.” What he appeals to about his scarce qualifying defeat in Zandvoort.
The bottom line is that everything stays the same, only that the distance to teammate Piatri is now larger than ever. And how he can reduce the distance by seven points in every race, he can of course grow by seven or even more points. The hill that needs to be climbed for Norris has grown massively due to the failure.