Lando Norris insists McLaren can mount a title challenge when Formula 1 returns at the Miami Grand Prix. The British champion has not stood on the podium in the opening three rounds, while teammate Oscar Piastri managed a runner‑up in Japan after a safety‑car interruption. Norris acknowledges gap to Mercedes but says the team will “push hard” instead of conceding. He believes testing will be decisive.

Trailing Mercedes leader Kimi Antonelli by 47 points, McLaren must close reliability gaps that have plagued their power unit. Norris highlighted missed track time in China and limited practice in Japan as factors eroding their learning curve. The team plans intensive simulator work and a tyre test at the Nürburgring to accelerate development before the next race, aiming to shave crucial tenths per lap.

Piastri echoed Norris’s optimism, saying the squad is better placed than in 2024 and capable of regular wins over the remaining 19 events. With a five‑week factory window and a brief April break, McLaren hopes to translate simulation gains into on‑track performance. The next sprint weekend will reveal whether the gap to Mercedes is narrowing.