McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says that Lando Norris is pushing the team forwards in the quest to earn regular race victories.

The Woking-based team finished fifth last year in the F1 standings, and will be looking to try and close the gap to the teams in front as much as they can in 2023.

Of course, that is easier said than done with the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes in front of them but McLaren know they have it in them to win races and championships, with them one of the most successful teams to have ever been on the grid.

That said, past glories are no guarantee of future success and the team is working hard to get back to the front, with Norris of course wanting to see that happen as soon as possible given his talent behind the wheel.

The British driver can now be seen as the team leader on the track given his performances in recent years and the fact that his team-mate for 2023 is rookie Oscar Piastri, and Brown has revealed that the 'naturally talented' Lando is pushing the team on to try and reach new heights:

“Lando’s a franchise driver,” Brown said to ESPN.

“Lando’s one of those guys if we put everyone in a dirt buggy and we put all the F1 drivers in a race, he’d be at the front because he’s got that kind of natural talent. He’s a total star, and he’s pushing us.

“He wants to be winning races, I’m sure he knows he can beat George [Russell] and he has beaten George before.

“He’s going to be anxious people he’s raced with don’t get too many more wins before he starts getting his.”

Lando Norris waves to the crowd at the Japanese Grand Prix

SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 09: Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren waves to the crowd on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Of course, Russell earned his first F1 victory towards the end of last season and, in driving for Mercedes, he is likely to get a few more before Lando does.

McLaren are hopeful in the next couple of years that they'll be competing right at the sharp end, though, and in the meantime Norris will be aiming to extract the very most out of his car as he has done since arriving on the grid.

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