On the eve of the Chinese GP, Lando Norris answered questions during the FIA press conference regarding McLaren’s incredible performance in the last race weekend in Melbourne, as well as Ferrari’s struggles. The British team’s dominance surprised not only observers but also the team itself.
When asked about the pace difference compared to rivals, Lando Norris admitted that the qualifying gap in Australia left everyone stunned: “Our goal was pole position, but we expected Ferrari to be much closer than it was. In the end, they were seven or eight tenths behind, and that caught us by surprise.”
Ferrari disappointed in Australia, but Lando Norris still sees it as a threat
Analyzing the free practice data, Lando Norris noted that Ferrari appeared competitive, especially in Friday’s long runs. “To be honest, their race pace even seemed better than ours. This shows how unpredictable things have become. One weekend, everything goes well, and the next, it can completely turn around.” – the British driver pointed out ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver then explained how the team managed to gain a crucial advantage in tire management, a key factor in a race with variable conditions like the one in Australia. “In the middle part of the race, we understood how to push without compromising the tires. At that point, we were very strong.”
Lando Norris also highlighted the importance of working with teammate Oscar Piastri: “We’ve learned a lot from each other about how to drive the car efficiently. Not every team has two drivers who can push each other forward like this—it’s something we’ve been working on at McLaren for a long time, and now it’s paying off.” – he added.
Looking ahead to the Shanghai weekend, Lando Norris remains cautious, aware of how difficult it is to make predictions in a season where performance can change dramatically from one race to the next. However, morale is high at McLaren, and the team aims to build on its strong showing in Australia.
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