A Friday McLaren will want to forget
Lando Norris did little to hide his frustration after the opening day of practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The McLaren driver finished both sessions well behind George Russell, who topped the timesheets, with a gap of around one and a half seconds around the Baku circuit.
“We are miles off,” Norris said, quoted by Formula1.com on Thursday. “It hurts a bit when you see just how far away you are.” The McLaren MCL40 did get a major update this weekend, with new sidepods, engine cover, floor and a revised rear suspension. According to technical director Rob Marshall, the team is going through the usual bedding-in period after such a heavy aero overhaul.
Try it for $0.99.
A mechanical problem on top
Both McLarens were also held back by a floor issue in first practice, which mechanics temporarily fixed with cable ties. Neither Norris nor team-mate Oscar Piastri managed to close the gap in the second session, even with extra laps under their belt.
The Woking outfit still leads the constructors’ championship this season, but Fridays like this are a reminder of how little room there is for error as the campaign moves into its final stretch. Baku, with its long straights and close walls, has a habit of shaking up the order in qualifying. That should leave Norris with a long night ahead before the rest of the weekend.
Discover the rest of the F1 news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply