Too soon for title challenge – Lando

McLaren driver rules out championship bid in 2022, eyeing following years instead

LANDO Norris believes his McClaren team will not have the capability to compete for the Formula One title next season – but that future years could see him propelled into the title picture.

McClaren have continued their excellent progression this season, ranking third in the constructor’s championship and the only team to have secured a 1-2 finish this year.

While Norris is still waiting for his first career victory in Formula One, the Somerset driver continues to impress and has been earmarked as a future champion.

Significant regulation changes and spending caps from the 2022 season could shift the balance away from Mercedes and Red Bull, opening up the series for other teams.

Norris admits competing at the top next season is unlikely, but believes his chances will be better in the following years.

“I don’t know when we’ll get the opportunity. Unlike other teams, not all things are in place yet to win the title. We still need a good wind tunnel,” he told the Dutch edition of Motorsport. “There are some things that we just don’t have compared to Mercedes or Red Bull.

“We’ll have a better chance in 2023 or 2024.”

That infrastructure is coming, however, with McClaren CEO Zak Brown stating that by 2024 “there will be no more excuses”.

Norris is tied down in a long-term deal at McClaren and will be integral to the team moving forward, having signed a multi-year extension earlier this season.

Meanwhile, his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo penned a three-year deal from the start of this season following his move from Renault.