Lando Norris, McLaren’s star driver, recently expressed surprise at Ferrari’s lackluster performance at the Australian Grand Prix. Norris conjectured that Ferrari too would have been “shocked” by their pace deficit. In practice sessions at Albert Park Circuit, Ferrari was perceived as a significant threat to McLaren, with Charles Leclerc even seizing the top spot in the second free practice (FP2).
However, as the top-10 shootout in qualifying unfolded, Ferrari’s competitive edge seemed to have deteriorated. Both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were pushed to the fourth row, trailing by seven-tenths from the McLaren drivers who dominated the front row. The race day didn’t bring any respite for Ferrari either, as they grappled with a lack of speed and strategic missteps, resulting in their drivers finishing eighth and 10th.
Despite the surprising turn of events in Australia, Norris remains confident that such a scenario is unlikely to recur in China. He anticipates that Ferrari, with its Italian heritage and racing legacy, will make a strong comeback. Norris acknowledged that the discrepancy in their qualifying performances had taken McLaren by surprise. While they had set their sights on pole position and expected to be the fastest, they had also anticipated Ferrari to be a close contender.
The qualifying results, however, told a different story. Ferrari trailed by seven to eight-tenths, which, according to Norris, is not a significant gap by any standards. The practice sessions had also indicated that Ferrari was not far behind in terms of pace. In fact, Ferrari’s race runs on Friday were closer to McLaren’s than any other team’s.
Norris speculated that Ferrari too might have been taken aback by their performance in the race. This, he said, underscores the unpredictability of racing, where fortunes can shift from one weekend to the next. The knowledge that Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri have accumulated over their tenure at McLaren, he believes, offers them a competitive edge.
The dynamics of racing can change rapidly, not only from race to race but also from one stint to another. Norris cited Max Verstappen’s performance at the end of the race as an example. Despite the damp conditions, Verstappen demonstrated exceptional speed in the initial and final laps of the race. However, as the track dried up and tyre management became crucial, Norris and Piastri’s expertise came to the fore.
Their understanding of tyre dynamics and the ability to drive the car efficiently, according to Norris, has been a significant advantage for McLaren. Not every team has the luxury of having two teammates who can trust and challenge each other to push the limits. While Ferrari is banking on its talented driver lineup, they are still in the process of helping Hamilton adapt to his new milieu. Meanwhile, Norris and Piastri, after three seasons as teammates, seem to be on the same wavelength, which may prove to be a significant advantage in the races to come.
