McLaren cannot resolve Lando Norris's persistent straightline speed deficit until Singapore at the earliest.

Lando Norris continues to suffer from a straightline speed issue costing between 0.1 and 0.2 seconds per lap, with the reigning champion losing 1-2 kilometers per hour in top speed compared to teammate Oscar Piastri when other parameters are equal. The problem has persisted across multiple race weekends despite McLaren's investigation efforts.

Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed the deficit appears in power-limited sections where Norris's car accelerates less and develops lower top speed. The issue becomes difficult to detect when Norris has even minimal slipstream from cars ahead, masking the true performance gap during sessions.

Multiple factors could contribute to the speed loss, including power unit parameters dependent on chassis settings or aerodynamic drag differences. Stella emphasized McLaren is not blaming Mercedes' power unit division but investigating all possible causes including chassis-related elements that affect overall performance.

McLaren can only implement changes for the Singapore Grand Prix, meaning Norris must manage the deficit throughout the Malaysian weekend. The team takes responsibility for not resolving what Stella called a fair concern for Norris's competitive position after the issue has affected multiple recent events.