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“ Victory in Miami in May was the final proof that McLaren is now in the mix for wins ”
It was exactly a year ago that an update package propelled McLaren and Lando Norris into serious contention . The previous race in Austria saw new parts and some serious progress , but things really came together at the team ’ s home race , where Norris qualified and finished second and even led the first few laps .
It was the start of what has been a hugely encouraging 12 months for Norris and his team mate Oscar Piastri , and the Briton ’ s memorable victory in Miami in May was the final proof that McLaren is now in the mix for wins .
Norris gained his first experience of FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX fever in F2 in 2018 , when he was third in the sprint event . By the following year he ’ d graduated to an F1 race seat and , while his initial Silverstone outing in 2019 saw him miss out on the points , he was then fifth , fourth and sixth over the next three years , prior to last year ’ s podium result . Given his recent form he ’ s a genuine contender for honours this weekend – and he ’ s made it clear that this is the victory he really wants .
Albon hasn ’ t yet won a race , and the Williams driver won ’ t be a podium challenger this weekend unless something extraordinary happens . However , his progress is always worth following .
Alex has some history at Silverstone . He won the GP3 feature race here in 2016 , and after a frustrating first season in F2™ won the feature in 2018 . That helped to propel him into a Scuderia Toro Rosso seat the following year . On his first British Grand Prix appearance he qualified an impressive ninth , but finished out of the points in 12th . However , he was promoted to Red Bull Racing at the very next race .
Second time around at Silverstone with the senior team in 2020 he finished eighth , adding fifth place in the one-off 70th Anniversary race a week later . A painful season on the sidelines followed in 2021 after he was dropped by RBR .
However , Albon was back in F1 ® with Williams in 2022 , and last year he had one of his best races of the season here to claim eighth . Although touted with a possible return to Red Bull , he has instead committed his long-term future to his current employer .
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