Lando Norris bluntly declared McLaren's current performance is "below the expectation" as he admitted to being flattered by rumours linking him with a move to a top team.
The Brit has impressed throughout his Formula 1 career to date. A first race victory in the series continues to elude him, but Norris has consistently shown he is one of the top talents on the grid – helped by the progress made by McLaren in terms of competitiveness.
But, for all their hard work, the team has taken a step back. McLaren looked best place to upset the balance of power on the grid and challenge the 'big three', but it is Aston Martin who have achieved that while the Woking-based outfit are struggling.
12 points earned last time out in Australia, their first of the season, were not enough to dramatically alter Norris' perception of how the season has gone so far for his team. "If I'm honest, I will say it's below the expectation," he told The Race.
"The thing is, it's below the expectation of the team as well. And I think that's known by everyone. I guess it's a bit of the reason why there's been quite a few changes. The trajectory in 2021 was very good. And the progression through '22 was pretty reasonable.
"The step into this year is below the expectation that we all had in mind at the end of last season. This is the year I expected a bit more of a step. Even last year, I would say, in terms of a realistic expectation, I was hoping for a little bit more. So, I'd say this year and last year are a little bit below where I was hoping the team would be, for many different reasons."
Given his talent and popularity, Norris is always going to be the subject of plenty of rumours. Despite his insistence that he is committed to McLaren for at least the full length of his current contract – the end of 2025 – Norris continues to be linked with a move to one of the top teams.
Red Bull have kept a close eye on his development and held talks with the racer before he penned his new deal with McLaren at the start of last year. But their interest remains and he will surely be near the top of their shortlist should they wish to find a new partner for Max Verstappen in the next couple of years.
Though he continues to proclaim his loyalty to his current employer, Norris admitted that he finds the persistent rumours to be flattering. "I feel like it’s a compliment that people are talking about it," said the 23-year-old. "It's nice that a lot of people believe that I should have an opportunity to be able to do better than what I'm doing now, or fighting for higher positions that aren't what I'm fighting for now.
" If I look at it from that perspective, it's a compliment that people are saying it. But I think it'll be the same with any driver, if they're having a tough time or if they're not getting the car that people maybe believe that they should be in. And it's what people are going to want to come up with.
"I wouldn't say it's a surprise. I think there's a level of like, last year the difficulties are acceptable, that happens every now and then. With the tough start to this season, then it's a little bit like... I can see why people would think 'Is Lando getting tired of it? Does he want to get out?'. I can see where people are coming from very easily. But I took it as a good thing that people believe I should be in a better car."
And if one day he does get the chance to compete against the very best drivers in equal machinery, the self-assured Norris fancies his chances. He added: "I feel very confident now that if I was in a position to go up against Max and Lewis – I'm not the kind of guy to ever say I'm confident I will easily be able to go out and beat them – but I believe I'll be able to battle against them and be a contender against them for a championship.
"But I believe that even more so for '24. And I believe that even more for '25. And if you see Max from where he was a few years ago, he was a guy who did make a lot of mistakes. He crashed a lot. Everyone was saying how much all over the place he was and look at him now, how composed he looks, how professional he looks."
