Marco Rossi · F1-Korrespondent
The world champion dampens hopes for another papaya victory before the circus even arrives in Azerbaijan.
Lando Norris has made clear ahead of the Baku race that he doesn't see McLaren as favorites on the tight street circuit. The reigning world champion cited the narrow track layout as the main reason, an assessment that aligns with team principal Andrea Stella's view that Baku simply isn't a typical McLaren track.
A Circuit Without the World Champion Car's Strengths
Baku is an outlier on the calendar: a tight, winding street circuit through the old town where, according to Norris, slow-speed corners dominate and high-speed sections are few and far between. That's precisely where the problem lies for McLaren. When asked whether his team could win in Baku, he was blunt: "I'd say no right now."
This isn't casual modesty but a straightforward technical assessment. McLaren's strengths throughout the season have shown themselves in medium-speed to fast corner combinations, where the car set the standard. Baku demands the opposite: plenty of grip from a standstill, precise turn-in at tight angles, patience over rhythm.
Stella Backs Up His Driver's Assessment
Team principal Andrea Stella didn't dodge the question either, confirming that Baku isn't a circuit where McLaren has felt particularly comfortable recently. When a team principal and his world champion publicly share the same assessment, that's more than understatement, it's deliberate expectation management toward both the paddock and the public.
For a team that's already locked up the constructors' and drivers' championships this season, such candor might seem surprising. But precisely because Norris has only recently claimed his first title after years as a relentless challenger, he likely wants to keep the focus on the work itself rather than expectations his car simply can't deliver this weekend.
What's at Stake
For the title fight itself, a middling result in Baku should change little, McLaren has built enough of a buffer over the season to absorb a weaker track. More interesting is the strategic signal: Norris and Stella are saying that collecting points matters more than forcing a podium finish if the car isn't the quickest package this weekend.
Whether this restraint proves smart expectation management or underestimation of a team's own adaptability will only become clear in free practice. Baku has surprised before, precisely because the circuit is so unforgiving and demands so much from the driver rather than sheer downforce.
