Norris Downplays McLaren's Practice Dominance

Lando Norris is urging fans to temper their expectations for McLaren's performance at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, despite the team owning the day with a dominant showing in both practice sessions.

The British driver dazzled early in the weekend by leading the first session, and later joined teammate Oscar Piastri in a stunning 1-2 finish during the second session, leaving Mercedes' George Russell trailing by nearly half a second.

Expectations vs. Reality

Upon reflecting on McLaren's impressive Friday, Norris was quick to dismiss the hype, labeling the day as "horrendous" due to significant tire degradation that impacted longer runs.

He noted, "A difficult day, just re-adapting back to the reality of Bahrain. The degradation is incredible today compared to the test. Everything feels dreadful, yet our pace was still reasonable. It was a reasonable Friday."

Surprisingly Tough Conditions

When questioned about the team’s struggles, Norris pointed to the sweltering conditions that hash up the track. "It’s hot, it’s windy… the temperature makes such a big difference. This is a challenge everyone faces, but we need to manage our rear tires effectively."

Rivals Keeping Their Cards Close

Norris also implied that rival teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari were deliberately holding back. "I just don’t think they turned up. Everyone looks at the timesheets but doesn't truly understand who is sandbagging. We could easily find ourselves back in the mix with Mercedes come qualifying."

Piastri Shares Optimism

Teammate Oscar Piastri echoed Norris’s sentiments, stressing the necessity for McLaren to balance speed with tire management for the race.

"I’m pretty happy, to be honest. FP1 was a very different story! The car felt good in FP2, considering the one-lap pace and longer runs looked reasonable as well," Piastri stated.

A Surprising Gap?

When asked about the unexpected margin to the other teams, the Australian responded, "Yes and no. The gap was a bit surprising, but I think others will find more pace tomorrow. Qualifying is crucial here as Bahrain is an overtaking-friendly track, but we also need a solid race car."

As the race weekend progresses, fans eagerly await whether McLaren can maintain their edge or if the big names will rise to the occasion.