McLaren ‘need more’ to challenge Red Bull – Norris

Lando Norris says McLaren are not ready to challenge Red Bull consistently despite taking his maiden victory in the Miami Grand Prix.

The Briton expects a competitive showing at this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix but said McLaren are “not getting ahead of ourselves”.

“I’m confident we can make steps forward but I’ve made it clear we’re not going to be there every weekend,” Norris said.

“We need more if we are to challenge Red Bull and Ferrari more consistently.”

Norris’ Miami victory followed a major aerodynamic development to the McLaren for the Florida event and he believes the car should be even better matched with the Imola track this weekend.

“We are just better suited for Imola, potentially the upgrade a little bit as well,” he said. “Imola has generally been one of our more successful tracks – and for me as driver.”

But he pointed out that other teams were also progressing – Ferrari have their own development package this weekend, including major bodywork revisions and improved aerodynamics. Red Bull, Mercedes and Aston Martin also have upgrades.

And Norris – whose Miami win was helped by a well-timed safety car that allowed him to jump to the front ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – said he still ranked McLaren behind Red Bull and Ferrari.

Norris said: “We definitely took a step forward but other teams have upgrades, too. So we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.

“I still think we’re the third best team at the moment, but that could change if we have another good weekend here and I’m confident with our rate of development that by next year we can challenge a lot more often for wins and in the big picture challenge for the title.”

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen heads into the rest of the season in a precarious position as the Dane is just two licence points short of a mandatory race ban.

Magnussen has amassed 10 points on his licence with a series of penalties for his driving in races so far this season.

Any driver who earns 12 points in any 12-month period is banned for a race. No driver has been banned under the system since it was introduced in 2013.

Magnussen has earned his penalties largely for aggressive defensive driving when he has been trying to hold back other cars to give his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg an advantage.

Magnussen admitted he would have to take a more conservative approach for the rest of the season.

“The next time is a race ban so I think I’ll have to,” he said.

“These situations where I’ve had to play the support role for my team-mate, they have been paying off so it’s been kind of valuable to us.

“I don’t love the way the rules are that it’s possible. I would love it to not be possible at all. But since the rules are the way they are; I didn’t make the rules.

“The fact I am at risk of a race ban for driving outside of some white lines on a piece of Tarmac, I don’t know if I feel that’s right. But that’s the way the rules are and I accept that. But I feel there is room for improvement there.”