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Norris Tops Spa FP2 but Admits Discomfort with McLaren, Eyes Improvement Ahead of Belgian GP
Lando Norris expressed discomfort with his McLaren Formula 1 vehicle, even though he recorded the fastest time in the second practice session at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Lando Norris expressed discomfort with his McLaren F1 vehicle, despite topping the charts with the quickest lap in Friday's practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Norris displayed impressive speed to lead a McLaren one-two, finishing two tenths ahead of his teammate and victor of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri, during the second practice session at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday.
Norris confessed that although he's leading the way, he doesn't feel completely at ease driving his McLaren.
"Promising, yet challenging and tightly contested. Currently, Red Bull has speed on their side. It's complicated," Norris observed.
"Today, the car didn't feel right to me. I'm hopeful that tomorrow will bring a better sense of comfort. We plan to make a few adjustments to enhance the experience."
"I'm aware it appears impressive on the record, but I wasn't entirely at ease with the idea of actually doing it. I'm hoping to find a better flow once I'm out there.
"I don't believe it's excessive. Nowadays, whenever we arrive at a track, we immediately find ourselves within millimeters of the limit."
"Changing the entire car in one night isn't really a thing anymore. If that happens, it means you haven't done sufficient prep work leading up to the weekend."
"We've made thorough preparations. Our system is strong. It's functioning effectively. However, personally, I'm not yet at the point where I feel fully confident in executing it flawlessly."
Norris finished with a 0.217-second lead over Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who faces a 10-place grid penalty in Sunday's race due to surpassing his season's limit on power unit usage.
Sky F1 analyst Naomi Schiff mentioned that Verstappen's penalty offers McLaren a significant chance to secure consecutive victories.
"In FP1, Max was notably fast, particularly in the second sector, even though it's not a typical spot for passing maneuvers. However, following that session, it seems McLaren might feel a bit more confident about managing Max's speed," she commented.
The team will need to fully leverage the initial phase of the race's first leg. By coordinating their efforts and avoiding hindering each other's progress, they can create as significant a lead as possible, ensuring Max is unable to catch up.
"They are presented with a significant chance – it's crucial they leverage it judiciously."
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