Norris says MCL35 feels much more like ‘my baby’
McLaren’s Lando Norris says the new MCL35 should be better suited to himself and Carlos Sainz as they enter their second year together.
Lando Norris says he feels the 2020 McLaren Formula 1 car should be much better suited to both his and teammate Carlos Sainz’ driving styles this year. With the pair entering their second year together as teammates, Norris says the MCL35 is a refinement of the 2019 car with which they claimed P4 in the Constructor’s Championship.
In jovial spirits at the launch of the new car, the 20 year old British driver said that the James Key-designed MCL35 has had full input from both he and Carlos: “I pretty much designed the whole thing! This car is based on last year’s and everything we went through last year and comments and discussion between us as drivers has been put into this car and based around that.”
Norris had to adjust to Formula 1 in a car that had been designed around Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne’s preferences, but says that will change for this year:
“It’s a lot more ‘my car’ – we’ve had the input into making this so it feels more like ‘my baby’ and I can’t wait to get driving it!”
Having stepped up to McLaren last season from being a Formula 2 driver in 2018, Norris says he feels much more prepared for the expectations on his shoulders as the team aim to keep moving up the order this year.
“It feels great.” he said. “If I think back to this time last year, well I can’t say the word I was going to say, but I was pooping myself a lot last year. Especially at this point. Now I’m a lot more confident, and a lot more relaxed and that prepares me better for this season.”
Check out McLaren’s video from the launch of the MCL35.
