Lando Norris Blasts McLaren’s Performance Despite Bahrain Practice Dominance
British Formula 1 driver Lando Norris didn’t hold back in expressing his frustration with the McLaren MCL39, describing it as “dreadful” despite the team’s strong showing in Bahrain practice sessions. McLaren displayed impressive pace during the free practice rounds at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Norris leading the way in FP1 and the team dominating FP2.
Despite McLaren’s apparent advantage on the timesheets, Norris was quick to point out that their performance might not be as dominant as it seems. He expressed his doubts about their true pace compared to their competitors, suggesting that some teams may not have shown their full potential yet. Norris highlighted the challenging conditions in Bahrain, including extreme temperatures and wind, which made it tough for him to feel comfortable in the car.
Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who topped the FP2 session, shared his optimism about McLaren’s performance, hinting that the team should fare well in both short and long runs as the weekend progresses. Piastri acknowledged the surprise at the significant gap to their rivals but anticipated a closer competition during qualifying.
As McLaren aims to maintain its strong performance throughout the weekend, both Norris and Piastri emphasized the importance of adapting to the changing track conditions and ensuring a competitive race setup. With uncertainties looming over the true pecking order in Bahrain, the stage is set for an intense battle among the F1 teams.
Stay tuned for more updates on McLaren’s performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix as they seek to translate their practice pace into a successful race weekend.