Lando Norris: Frustration Brews as McLaren MCL39 Proves “Unpredictable” Ahead of U.S. Grand Prix
In a shocking turn of events at the United States Grand Prix, Lando Norris, who secured an impressive second place in the qualifying rounds, unleashed a wave of frustration over the unpredictable behavior of his McLaren MCL39. The British driver didn’t hold back, declaring the car “unpredictable and impossible to drive,” as he battled to find his rhythm on the circuit.
From the moment the session kicked off, Norris faced an uphill battle. His first lap in Q1 was promptly disqualified, and as he navigated the track, the car exhibited a disconcerting instability, skidding through corners and struggling over curbs. “It’s just impossible to drive; I don’t know why,” Norris lamented during an interview with Sky Sports. His performance fell short, with the car lagging three-tenths to half a second behind Max Verstappen’s pole position lap time.
“It was evident from Q1 that we were consistently three-tenths to half a second off the pace of Max,” he explained. “Every bump, every curb felt different each lap, which is not typical for us. Clearly, both of us were grappling with significant difficulties today.” Norris’s candid remarks highlight the growing concern within McLaren’s camp regarding the car’s performance.
The stark contrast between Norris’s qualifying performance and the preceding Sprint Race left the team puzzled. “I don’t understand why we’re facing such challenges compared to yesterday, where I felt more at ease and was significantly quicker,” he noted. “The track conditions seemed worse today, and the wind picked up, affecting us more than others. We need to figure out why this happened and learn from it. It’s almost surprising to be in second place, but I’ll take it.”
Compounding the team’s uncertainty is the lack of crucial data from the Sprint Race due to an early exit, which hindered their ability to assess the car’s balance and tire degradation under race conditions. Nevertheless, the determined 25-year-old refused to use these circumstances as an excuse, emphasizing his relentless pursuit of victory: “I want to win. I hate finishing second or third. I’m here to win races, and I’ll do whatever it takes to seize that opportunity.”
As Norris heads into the main event on Sunday in Austin, he is acutely aware of the limitations posed by the McLaren but is resolute in turning that uncertainty into motivation to challenge Verstappen and the Red Bull team. The stakes are high, and with his competitive spirit ignited, fans can expect a thrilling showdown as Norris aims to transform his frustrations into triumph on the track.
