Despite recording impressive timings in the Friday practices ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, McLaren’s MCL39 faces challenges, according to the team’s hotshot driver, Lando Norris. Norris, who dominated the FP1, voiced concerns over the MCL39’s performance, particularly during low fuel runs where he cited “too many inconsistencies and too many problems”.
Just a day earlier, Norris had hinted that Ferrari held more potential than they had shown so far. His predictions seem to ring true as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc outpaced McLaren in the afternoon session, dashing ahead on soft tyres as track temperatures rose.
While the MCL39 had been hailed as the car to triumph in Melbourne, Norris’ insights suggest a different story. He and team-mate Oscar Piastri were touted as likely victors for the season-opening showdown. However, Norris expressed dissatisfaction with the car’s balance and consistency, particularly on low fuel, despite an overall good start.
When quizzed about McLaren’s prospects for a ‘positive performance this year’, Norris remained ambiguous, stating, “I mean, I don’t know what positive means, but I think we’ll be strong.” He also projected a strong showing from Ferrari and Mercedes, while notably omitting Red Bull, Max Verstappen’s team, from his list of potential heavyweights.
Norris’ cautionary tone about Ferrari came after he dismissed predictions that had McLaren leading the pack, with Ferrari trailing along with Red Bull and Mercedes. He pointed out that Ferrari’s testing programme may have masked their true potential. He stated, “I know how much fuel and stuff Ferrari had for a lot of the testing. You’d be surprised at how quick they’re going to be this weekend.”
Norris also downplayed McLaren’s own performance during the testing phase, maintaining that the team remained focused on its goals. He expressed a belief that McLaren was in a similar league as the top three teams from last year and highlighted unseen strengths within Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
As the motorsport world gears up for the qualifying rounds on Saturday, one thing is clear, the battle for supremacy on the track is far from predictable.
