Lando Norris has expressed uncertainty over whether McLaren will manage to diagnose and repair a power unit issue that has robbed him of crucial straight-line speed ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion had been performing impressively, securing three pole positions and two race victories across four events either side of the summer shutdown. His recent form in Azerbaijan and Malaysia, however, has marked a sharp departure from that trajectory.
At both venues, Norris qualified only fifth and struggled to make an impact during the races themselves. A collision removed him from contention in Azerbaijan, while Malaysia saw him finish ninth after a performance marred by multiple errors. Throughout the Sepang International Circuit weekend, he was noticeably slower than team-mate Oscar Piastri in several sections of track.
The underlying cause appears to centre on his power unit, though McLaren engineers have not yet pinpointed the exact nature of the problem. When asked by Sky Sports F1 whether the team could resolve it in time for Singapore, Norris offered little reassurance.
I have no idea. The team are trying but I'm losing almost two tenths a lap. Two tenths a lap over 55 laps is just painful as hell. It's making my life pretty damn difficult.
He acknowledged that his own performance also required improvement, refusing to use the mechanical issue as a complete explanation for his struggles.
There are also other things. In Malaysia I could have done better. I can't just have that. That's not just an excuse. There are things I can do better and the team as well.
Stella: Rivals may have developed car with bigger steps
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella conceded that some rival teams may have achieved more substantial progress with their car development than his own outfit has managed in recent weeks.
The reigning constructors' champions appeared competitive for victories when they introduced an upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break, which enabled Norris to secure the team's first pole position and race win of the season. Despite adding further upgrades to their car subsequently, Mercedes' George Russell delivered a commanding victory in Azerbaijan, while Max Verstappen demonstrated Red Bull's advancement by winning in Malaysia.
Stella outlined the rapid shift in the competitive order that has caught McLaren off guard.
We see a scenario in Formula 1 which seems to be changing pretty rapidly. In Hungary, we took some upgrades, and we were in condition to have a pole position in Hungary and Zandvoort and then we were in condition to do pole position and pretty much victory in Madrid without the Virtual Safety Car. Then very rapidly and interestingly, as we took upgrades as well, the picture changes. I think we have to take a look at our own development. We don't see any anomaly in our data, but we have to acknowledge that potentially some competitors have developed their car with bigger steps than we did.
The extreme heat and abrasive track surface encountered in Malaysia may have created unusual conditions that skewed the results, offering Stella some optimism that McLaren could recover their form in Singapore.
There are very specific conditions in Malaysia, so I think we should give ourselves more time. I'm sure this is the same kind of review that we'll have next door at Mercedes. It's a very special condition in Malaysia, so I think we have to understand better the behaviour of the cars. I think we need to give ourselves some more time. I'm personally not in condition to say if Singapore will be now more suitable or not, because from a track layout point of view, we thought that Sepang would be a decent circuit for us. This is because of the uncertainty caused by the new scenario from a competitiveness point of view, but also because we might have to understand a bit better the upgrades that we took ourselves, and Singapore will give us a better answer.
Stella's comments reflect the broader uncertainty at McLaren following their recent downturn. Earlier in the season, Norris had claimed pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix, demonstrating the team's capability when conditions favour their package. The question now is whether the Marina Bay circuit will provide more favourable circumstances.
Singapore Sprint weekend schedule and circuit details
Formula 1 will head directly to Singapore for what marks the final Sprint weekend of the season. The Marina Bay circuit spans 4.927 kilometres and the Grand Prix will run for 62 laps, making it one of the longest races on the calendar in terms of distance.
Track action commences this Friday with Sprint Qualifying, followed by the Sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday. The Grand Prix itself is scheduled for Sunday, October 11 at 20:00 local time, with all sessions available live on Sky Sports F1.
For McLaren and Norris, Singapore represents a crucial opportunity to understand whether their recent struggles stem from genuine competitive disadvantage or from the specific characteristics of the Malaysian venue. The tight confines of the street circuit and its night-time setting will present a different challenge to the high-speed, high-temperature environment of Sepang. Stella's hope that the team can use the weekend to gain clarity on their upgrade package and competitive position suggests that McLaren view Singapore as a potential turning point in their season.
