Why McLaren's Slow Speed Weakness Might Not Be a Problem at Monaco, According to Lando Norris

The tight, twisting streets of Monaco present one of Formula 1's most unique challenges, and this year, Lando Norris believes that the circuit's particular demands might just play into McLaren's hands. Traditionally, the Woking-based team has struggled with slow-speed corners—widely regarded as the MCL38's Achilles' heel—but the high-drag nature of the Monaco circuit could serve as an equalizer.

Norris opened up to the media in Monaco, acknowledging McLaren's struggles but also hinting at a potential edge. “It’s still our biggest weakness. Even if you look at Imola, like Turn 7, the chicane, it’s still one of our worst corners,” he admitted. However, Monaco offers a unique scenario where teams configure their cars exclusively for slow-speed performance.

“Monaco, you set up only for slow speed, nothing else,” Norris explained. “I think that’s where it plays a little bit more back into our hands. It’s just not as far-fetched as what it is at some other circuits.”

This particular kind of finesse might give McLaren the boost it needs to perform exceptionally well. Norris cited last year's performance as not the best, but pointed out that significant improvements have been made since then. “We’ve clearly improved a lot. We didn’t have our upgrade here last year, so a lot of things have changed,” he said.

Recently, McLaren has shown a marked leap from being mid-field contenders to serious competitors. Norris's second-place finish in China and his breakthrough win in Miami are testaments to the team's upward trajectory. He even gave Red Bull's Max Verstappen a run for his money at Imola.

“Qualifying has stayed incredibly tight between Red Bull and us. Ferrari is also neck and neck in the fight,” Norris elaborated. The competition is fierce, and the room for error is almost nonexistent. A tenth of a second separated Norris from Verstappen at Emilia Romagna, a disparity that brings into sharp focus how finely tuned the battle will be in Monaco.

The emphasis on qualifying in Monaco cannot be overstated. With overtaking notoriously difficult on the narrow streets, starting at the front is often synonymous with podium potential. “It’s really close. Whether it will be Mercedes or Aston Martin, you can say all teams have a shot,” Norris stated.

Despite this new-found confidence, Norris remains cautious. “You can easily go one way or the other in Monaco. It can easily look really good for us or it might just be that the others have some tricky weekend. So, I think everything is still to play for,” he warned.

“It’s such a small track. Qualifying is critical, and you make a one-tenth, two-tenth mistake, that's a big loss around here,” Norris explained. Therefore, keeping focus will be essential for McLaren as they prepare for this weekend.

The landscape of competition might bring unexpected twists, but with an upgraded car and newfound performance in slow-speed corners, McLaren fans have a reason to be hopeful. As Norris succinctly said, “We’re just concentrating on doing our job because we’ve been doing a good job so far.”

Whether McLaren can overcome their slow-corner weaknesses and make a statement in one of F1’s most glamorous races remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: this year’s Monaco Grand Prix is one race you won’t want to miss.