Season snapshot · 2019
Source: Jolpica F1 API- WDC finish
- P11
- Wins
- 0
- Podiums
- 0
- Points
- 49
- DNFs
- 4
- Constructor
- McLaren Racing
Race-by-race
| Race | Grid | Finish | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian | P8 | P12 | 0 |
| Bahrain | P9 | P6 | 8 |
| Chinese | P15 | P18 | 0 |
| Azerbaijan | P7 | P8 | 4 |
| Spanish | P10 | Collision | 0 |
| Monaco | P12 | P11 | 0 |
| Canadian | P8 | Suspension | 0 |
| French | P5 | P9 | 2 |
| Austrian | P5 | P6 | 8 |
| British | P8 | P11 | 0 |
| German | P19 | Power loss | 0 |
| Hungarian | P7 | P9 | 2 |
| Belgian | P11 | P11 | 0 |
| Italian | P16 | P10 | 1 |
| Singapore | P9 | P7 | 6 |
| Russian | P7 | P8 | 4 |
| Japanese | P8 | P11 | 0 |
| Mexican | P8 | Withdrew | 0 |
| United States | P8 | P7 | 6 |
| Brazilian | P10 | P8 | 4 |
| Abu Dhabi | P6 | P8 | 4 |
Lando Norris's 2019 Formula 1 season marked his debut with McLaren, establishing him as a promising talent in a year that saw the Woking team begin its ascent from recent struggles.
Going in
Norris arrived in Formula 1 as a highly-rated junior, stepping into a McLaren seat for his rookie year. McLaren had endured several challenging seasons, particularly in the latter half of the 2010s, but 2019 offered a fresh start with a new driver lineup and a renewed technical focus. The turbo-hybrid era, which began in 2014, was still largely dominated by Mercedes, but the midfield battle was intense, and McLaren aimed to re-establish itself as a consistent points contender. Expectations for Norris were to learn, adapt, and contribute to McLaren's recovery, a trajectory often seen in emerging talents, much like Max Verstappen — 2015 season in his early years.
How it played out
Norris demonstrated his pace early, qualifying 8th for his debut at the Australian Grand Prix. While the race yielded a 12th place finish, he quickly scored points in Bahrain with a strong 6th place. The season saw a mix of promising performances and rookie challenges. He secured a 7th place grid slot in Azerbaijan, converting it to an 8th place finish, and later achieved his best qualifying position of 5th at the French and Austrian Grands Prix. His 6th place finish in Austria was another highlight, showcasing his race craft.
However, the season also included four DNFs: collision damage in China, a collision in Spain, suspension failure in Canada, and power loss in Germany and Belgium, plus a withdrawal in Mexico. These incidents underscored the learning curve inherent in a rookie F1 season. Consistency improved in the latter half, with points finishes in Singapore (7th), Russia (8th), United States (7th), Brazil (8th), and Abu Dhabi (8th). These results were crucial for McLaren's overall constructor's championship standing. He finished the season with 49 points, placing him 11th in the Formula 1 — official site World Drivers' Championship, a respectable return for a debut year.