Lando Norris suggested that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix demonstrated that McLaren`s performance edge isn`t as significant as some have indicated this season.
His teammate, Oscar Piastri, secured victory from second position, overtaking Norris in the championship standings. However, Piastri`s lead over Red Bull`s Max Verstappen was only 2.8 seconds, despite Verstappen receiving a five-second penalty earlier in the race.
Norris himself recovered from a poor qualifying session, starting 10th and finishing fourth. He attempted to overtake Charles Leclerc for third place but missed out by just one second.
When questioned about the strong showings from Red Bull and Ferrari, Norris told Sky Sports F1 that he is unsure why people are surprised, as these teams are consistently as fast as McLaren in most sessions, including the race itself.
Norris dismissed the idea that McLaren holds a substantial lead, clarifying that while they might appear quicker in practice, it doesn`t translate to a significant advantage in qualifying. He believes Max Verstappen was likely the fastest driver in the Saudi Arabian GP without the penalty, emphasizing McLaren still has improvements to make.
Reflecting on his race, Norris expressed satisfaction with his recovery to fourth place, acknowledging that he often makes things difficult for himself. He believes fourth was the best possible outcome and aims to improve his Saturday performances to secure better grid positions in future races.
Norris concluded by stating that people need to adjust their perception of McLaren`s advantage, recognizing that while they have a strong car, it is not definitively the quickest.
Norris Aims for Improved Qualifying
Despite a challenging qualifying session, Norris was content with finishing in the top five at the Jeddah street circuit. He considered his recovery drive and fourth-place finish positive but admitted he needs to improve his Saturdays.
Norris, now trailing Piastri by 10 points in the championship, stated that while missing the podium was disappointing, he felt it was the best result achievable. He acknowledged Charles Leclerc`s strong race and effective tire strategy, which ultimately secured Leclerc`s third position.
Norris reiterated the need to perform better on Saturdays to start races in a more advantageous position, making the races less challenging.
He communicated to his team that focusing on improving Saturday performances is key for future success.
Formula 1 moves to Miami for a Sprint weekend on May 2-4.
Marcus Prine