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McLaren’s performance in Zandvoort highlights their car’s weakness in slow corners, says Lando Norris. The reigning world champion won the previous round at the Hungaroring, a circuit which has several low-to-medium-speed corners, but he believes the slower mix of corners at Zandvoort is a problem for the MCL40.“We knew in Budapest we’re very good in high-speed corners and we’re pretty terrible in slow speed, but we still managed to win,” he said. “Here there’s a lot more of the very, very slow speed and more of our problems show. So [it’s] not a surprise at all. It’s exactly what we expected.” McLaren have brought further upgrades for their car in Zandvoort. Norris said these have performed as expected but the team still has a significant deficit to its rivals at some circuits. “They’ve done exactly as they should, so I’m very happy,” he said. “We still managed to progress. “It’s just [in] certain areas we’re just nowhere near quick enough. The slow speed, we’ve just struggled the whole weekend and seems clearly the weakness we have in the car at the minute. I feel if we still went back to Monaco now, we’re going to be shocking, as we were. “So I think we’ve clearly progressed a lot, and especially in medium and high-speed, which is why we’re quick here, why we were so quick in Budapest. It wasn’t like we were quick everywhere in Budapest, and that’s why we won. The slow speed, we were still slower than Ferrari and matching Mercedes just about. Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and “So we still have weaknesses, even though we managed to win one race. It’s just the strengths really shone there, and here it’s just the deficit is too big in the slow speed.” Norris qualified second on the grid for today’s sprint race alongside George Russell but fell to third behind Charles Leclerc. He doubts McLaren can make any significant changes to the car’s poor performance in low-speed corners for the time being. “There’s just nothing we can do about it now. It’s just how the car is for the time being. “That’s where we still have to focus as a team. We’ll try and get everything out of it. I feel like I still did a good job today, even with the P3. “It’s just [that] I want to be fighting for top spot and be fighting and going forward and catching George and putting him under pressure rather than trying to survive in every slow-speed corner and fighting for my life. “So I’m very happy with the team and the progress we made, and the upgrades have all worked, and they’ve allowed me to be P3 today. But we just need more if we want to fight for a championship.” Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and Go ad-free for just £1 per month >> Find out more and sign up 2026 Dutch Grand Prix - Small change made “unbelievable” improvement in Hamilton’s Ferrari - Lawson pleased with “good lap” after qualifying a tenth off Verstappen on return - Norris beats Mercedes pair to Dutch Grand Prix pole position - 2026 Dutch Grand Prix grid - McLaren’s car is “terrible” in low-speed corners – Norris