Lando Norris takes a savage dig at Fernando Alonso's team after another failed upgrade in Austin

McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris has commented that Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin F1 Team has become "slower" and "slower" with each upgrade this season.

The Woking-based team has been the most in-form on the grid since the British GP as they have been the closest to challenge Red Bull in terms of race pace. They also took P4 in the Constructor's Championship from Aston Martin at the US GP last weekend after being behind by more than 100 points earlier in the season.

In his post-race press conference, Lando Norris said the team was targeting the P3 spot that Ferrari currently holds in the Championship:

"It's our target. I think we're in a we're in a good rhythm. It's been clear that Aston… I don't know, they seem to have managed to make the car slower and slower with every upgrade that they’ve bought… They have! I mean they were racing Aston in the beginning of the year and I don't know where they finished today.

"But you know, they were out in Q1 and then they've been struggling, so I don't know what their issues are. But you know, they were very strong, they had a lot of points in the first half of the season and in the second half they've been struggling, and for us it’s vice versa."

Can Lando Norris and McLaren win a race in the 2023 season?

Lando Norris was optimistic about the car's performance in the remaining races but claimed that Qatar was the last chance for McLaren to win a race this season.

At the Lusail International Circuit, McLaren were the second-fastest team on the grid on pure pace and had both drivers finishing on the podium. Lando Norris said:

"Do I think our best chances have gone? I would say yes. I think Qatar was our best chance of winning a race. And I missed out on that one. So I don't want to say no, I don't say like never.

"I think there's no super high speeds… Suzuka-style circuits left, Qatar-style circuits left which is where we're strong and like I said, if you looked at the GPS and the overlays of how bad we are in the slow speed I'm not looking forward to Brazil. I think we're going to be pretty shocking there.

It will be fascinating to see even if McLaren and Lando Norris don't win a race, if they can chase Ferrari and Mercedes down in the Constructor's Championship for P2.