Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo could find themselves on the podium at this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, according to a Formula 1 legend.
The start to the current campaign has been a difficult one for McLaren. After a strong few days of pre-season testing in Barcelona, the Woking-based outfit was plagued with setbacks and started the year with cars far slower than had been anticipated.
McLaren were struggling with a lack of downforce and their two talented drivers were unable to make any sort of impression in the first two races. In Bahrain both were a long way off the points, while Norris did well to finish seventh in Jeddah – though Ricciardo did not finish the race.
But things improved dramatically for the team last time out at the Australian Grand Prix, as Ricciardo celebrated a long-awaited return to home soil with a strong result. He finished sixth, just behind his team-mate, as McLaren finally looked like a team capable of holding their own against their top rivals.
F1 legend and two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi has backed both drivers to continue their upward curve in fortunes and suggested they might even stand on the podium this weekend. "I'm sure they will continue to improve a lot for the Grand Prix in Imola," he told VegasInsider.
"I was with McLaren in Jeddah, and [team CEO] Zak Brown confirmed that they'll continue to get better for each race. For the next four or five Grands Prix. McLaren is running strong but should be stronger at Imola. McLaren was without a doubt the most improved team at the Grand Prix in Australia.
"Both Mercedes and McLaren knows how to work within the new rules. In terms of mechanical grip, they improved a lot. The engine has also improved quite a lot. Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo are going to be strong again. Without a doubt. They have the potential to be on the podium in Imola."
If that prediction were to come true, that would present a major problem for Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. They have largely had it all their own way so far in terms of race pace, but their tasks would be made much more difficult by the emergence of two more challengers.
It is also a problem for their respective team-mates, Red Bull 's Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari – as well as Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. With only three podium places on offer at each race, having two more drivers in the mix makes points and silverware even more difficult to come by.
Fittipaldi, however, believes the grid's striking red cars are still too good to be beaten by their rivals. "To me, Ferrari has the best package of the year," he added. "They look reliable, they look fast in different conditions, in different tracks. They got around the new rules better than anybody else, in my opinion.
"I have a lot of respect for what Ferrari has done from last year to this year. They focused on this year's car and it's showing in the results now. Last year was a frustrating year for Ferrari. This year is the opposite. They are the team to win the championship."
