French GP: Lando Norris eyeing points as midfield fight continues

McLaren driver Lando Norris says he’s looking to add more points to the team’s tally this weekend at the French Grand Prix.

The papaya-clad team scored a double-points finish in the Austrian Grand Prix last time out which, given how the weekend started for them, was some result.

Indeed, both cars were outside of the top ten after qualifying on Friday but they worked their way up over the course of the Sprint and the Grand Prix and by the chequered flag on Sunday some decent points were in the bag.

The second half of the season starts this weekend, meanwhile, with the French Grand Prix and, with the midfield battle between McLaren, Alpine and Alfa Romeo rumbling on, Norris knows that more points are going to be crucial this weekend.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Le Castellet, Norris said:

“With the summer break fast approaching, it’s important we continue to build on our results this season as the midfield gets tighter. Finishing P7 and P9 in Austria was positive after a difficult start to the weekend and it’s great to remain in this battle for fourth in the constructor standings.

“Going back to a standard race weekend format in France should give us the opportunity to improve over the free practice sessions, something we didn’t have available to us at Austria’s Sprint. There is a lot of work to still do but we will continue to push hard on track and secure more points like we did as a team at Paul Ricard last year.”

As Norris mentions, the French Grand Prix provided points last year for the team and so if they can repeat that result they will be pleased.

The battle for fourth in the championship is well and truly on as we enter the second half of the campaign, and Norris and co. know every point counts.