Norris Reaches 150 Races with McLaren in F1: Historic Milestone in Las Vegas

Lando Norris is about to equal David Coulthard as the driver with the most races in McLaren’s history. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will mark Norris’s 150th race with the team, a significant milestone in his career. The 26-year-old British driver has needed seven seasons to catch up with Coulthard, an achievement he greatly values. He will surpass the mark at the Qatar Grand Prix, which will be held next Sunday.

“It’s crazy, it’s a big number, to equal DC in the number of races with McLaren. Qatar will be the 151st, so… I don’t know what the word would be… the driver with the most races for McLaren?”, Norris commented on Wednesday night at the Las Vegas circuit.

Lando Norris

Norris expressed his pride in this achievement, highlighting the importance of reaching 150 races in Formula 1, a dream he has pursued since childhood. “It’s something I’m very proud of, it’s a great achievement, 150 in F1, this is my dream,” he stated.

Currently, Norris is in a prominent position for this milestone with McLaren, leading the world championship with a 24-point advantage over his teammate, Oscar Piastri, with three races remaining. Max Verstappen, four-time world champion, is 49 points behind.

McLaren has secured the constructors’ championship for the second consecutive year thanks to the performance of Norris and Piastri, who have exchanged the lead in the drivers’ standings throughout the season. The team remains firm in not designating a favorite, giving both drivers the same opportunity to win the title.

Since he regained the lead in points against Piastri two races ago in Mexico City, speculation arose about possible tensions between the teammates. Norris denied these claims, explaining that the decrease in video production on social media is due to a request from both drivers to focus on the competition. Norris emphasized his friendship with Piastri, highlighting that they both respect and understand their roles at McLaren. Both drivers have won seven races this season, although Piastri has had less success since his victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in August. In the last six races, the Australian has only achieved one podium and arrives in Las Vegas with three consecutive fifth places. For his part, Norris feels fortunate to have overcome a complicated start to the season, and although he is in a favorable position for the championship, he prefers to remain cautious. “My focus remains one race at a time,” Norris stated, indicating that he will maintain this strategy until the end.