Lando Norris insists McLaren just isn’t comfortably faster than the remainder of the sphere on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as its constructors’ title hopes took a lift as a result of a penalty for Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari needed to change the vitality retailer in Leclerc’s automobile throughout FP1, triggering a 10-place grid penalty that additional reduces its probabilities of overturning a 21-point deficit to McLaren within the struggle for the constructors’ championship. Norris then duly went quickest in FP2 — the principle consultant observe session of the weekend — forward of teammate Oscar Piastri, however downplayed how good the standings made the crew look.
“The automobile’s been feeling good the entire day, so we continued our tempo out of Qatar and it feels sturdy,” Norris mentioned. “I undoubtedly suppose now we have some issues to enhance on each high and low gasoline [loads], in all probability extra so the excessive gasoline.
“It actually appears higher than it’s. I don’t suppose any of the others turned up their engines but, so it would look superb for now however I feel we’re nonetheless going to have a tricky struggle tomorrow.”
Even so, Norris acknowledged the areas he needs to make progress on are extra a case of fine-tuning than main weaknesses that McLaren is dealing with.
“It’s nothing enormous; it’s small issues,” he mentioned. “It’s looking for a stability going faster however saving the tires, particularly within the longer-run stuff. The place are you able to push extra and the place do you have to save? How will you save the tires extra with driving, with the toys I can change on my steering wheel, the underlying stability of the automobile? Simply looking for the proper compromise is the principle factor.”
Group principal Andrea Stella says the penalty for Leclerc doesn’t take any stress off McLaren because it appears to safe a primary constructors’ title since 1998.
“In no way,” Stella mentioned. “I suppose you anticipated this reply! In no way. We discuss Charles Leclerc. We discuss Ferrari. It’s a really sturdy mixture. I feel even with the penalty, I wouldn’t be shocked if we are able to see them very quickly preventing for the entrance, for the highest positions. So nothing adjustments. We hold remaining calm, targeted and stuffed with vitality.”
