As the Australian Grand Prix (GP) looms in the distance, the McLaren team is on high alert. With forecasted wet weather conditions on race day, a sense of uncertainty shrouds the performance of the team’s star drivers – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. A wet race at the Australian GP hasn’t been witnessed since 2010, thus adding to the apprehension.
Saturday’s qualifying races were held under a dry sky, despite looming dark clouds over Albert Park. This resulted in a spectacular front row lockdown by McLaren with Norris leading the pack and Piastri securing P2, followed by reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Yet, Sunday’s predicted rain threatens to add a drastic twist to the tale, posing a significant challenge to the drivers and teams alike due to the unpredictability of the conditions.
Interestingly, none of the top three drivers – Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen – have raced on this track under wet conditions, as they hadn’t been on the circuit during the wet race in 2010. This lack of experience could potentially put them on the back foot.
Norris, in a media interaction, acknowledged the looming uncertainty. “You kind of have to wait and see. Also, it’s a new car so there’s also a lot of unknowns and question marks. Will the car perform at the same level? There could be different issues. It’s not always as simple as just saying bolt some wets on and have a crack,” he expressed.
While there’s a clear concern about the car’s performance under wet conditions, Norris also noted that McLaren’s current pace might take a hit due to the weather. He hinted that the team’s dominance displayed in the dry conditions might not necessarily translate to a wet track.
Echoing Norris’s thoughts, Piastri also pointed out that their cars have evolved since the last wet race at Melbourne. He raised concerns about the tyres, saying, “The cars have moved on a lot since then and I can’t remember if the tyres are the same anymore, they might be different. So there’s a lot of unknowns for tomorrow.”
World champion Verstappen, however, seemed less interested in speculating about the weather. His terse response to inquiries about the conditions was simply, “Yeah it’s slippery in the wet, so you have to take that into consideration.”
The Dutch driver, despite showing improvement through the weekend, was almost four-tenths behind Norris in the qualifying rounds, a concern for Red Bull. Verstappen admitted his surprise at making it to the top three given the events of Friday. “I’m quite surprised to be sitting here after yesterday! I felt confident. I felt one with the car. Of course, clearly it was lacking a bit of pace, but overall, happy with the laps in qualifying,” he stated.
As the teams gear up for the showdown, the weather gods might end up playing a crucial role in deciding the fate of the race. As the drivers navigate the unknown, the McLaren team might have to brace for an intense challenge. The Australian GP, thus, promises to be an intriguing spectacle.