Lando Norris and McLaren Face Confidence Crisis at Monaco Grand Prix

World champion Lando Norris qualified eighth (fourth row) for the Monaco Grand Prix, describing the result as predictable given the McLaren MCL40’s persistent weaknesses. He said his confidence level had fallen from 100 last year to 85 this season and warned that the car is “very difficult to drive, not very compliant, not very forgiving.” Norris blamed a lack of front‑end grip and overall car balance, noting the car’s poor performance on slow‑speed circuits.

Teammate Oscar Piastri qualified just ahead of Norris on the same row, while McLaren chief Andrea Stella suggested the car should handle slow circuits better. The team also had to replace a wiring harness after Norris’s car stopped during practice, highlighting ongoing reliability issues. Both drivers remain over half a second off pole, underscoring the team’s challenge in closing the performance gap with rivals.