Lando Norris cut a dejected figure after qualifying a disappointing sixth for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, a result that left the McLaren driver questioning his own performance rather than the car beneath him.
Despite leading the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, Norris admitted to feeling “clueless” on track, unable to find his rhythm.
His teammate Oscar Piastri, by contrast, stormed to pole position, highlighting the MCL39’s potential and leaving Norris to wrestle with personal frustrations.
In a candid post-qualifying debrief, Norris praised his “amazing” car but revealed a deeper struggle to connect with it, setting the stage for a critical race day.
Although McLaren dominated the timesheets at Sakhir at the outset, Norris described his MCL39 as feeling “dreadful”, a sentiment that lingered through practice and into qualifying.
The Briton kept pace with Piastri through Q1 and Q2, but a scruffy first sector on his final Q3 lap derailed his hopes of a front-row start, leaving him languishing just outside the top five.
The gap to Piastri’s pole time – 0.426s – underscored Norris’ difficulties, yet he refused to point fingers at the car or team.
A Car Without Fault, A Driver Adrift
Speaking to the media post-qualifying, Norris was blunt about his performance.
“I mean, it was just every lap, honestly,” he said. “I’ve been off every lap this weekend, just not comfortable. No big complaints.
“The car’s amazing. The car’s as good as it has been the whole season, which is strong.”
However, the praise only deepened his frustration.
“I’ve been off it all weekend. Don’t know why, just clueless on track at the minute. So, I don’t know. I just need a big reset or something.”
When pressed on what he needed to unlock the car’s potential, Norris struggled to pinpoint a solution. Piastri’s commanding performance served as a stark reminder of the MCL39’s pace, and Norris acknowledged his teammate’s success without reservation.
“Oscar’s doing a great job, so I can’t complain,” he said. “I’m not going to have the excuse that I can’t drive my car. It’s my job to drive whatever car I’ve got, whether it’s easy or hard. And I’m not doing a good enough job, so the team are doing an amazing job.
“I’m not going to complain about the car not suiting my needs. I’m not comfortable. It doesn’t drive the way I like, but that’s not an excuse. The driver’s job is to drive whatever car they’re given, and I can’t drive this car quick enough.”
Searching for Flow Amid Shifting Winds
Norris’ struggles went beyond a single poor lap. He described a broader inability to adapt to the car’s nuances, particularly in Bahrain’s variable conditions.
“I just don’t know how to approach it. I can’t figure it out,” he admitted. “Every time I try something, it’s good for one session, and then it’s the wrong thing for the next session, because the wind has changed.
“I just can’t flow with the car, and when I can’t flow, I’m not very quick,” he continued. Turning inward, he added, “I’ve just got to work on myself. I can’t follow the team, and the car is the best by a long way. But clearly, I’m just not clicking at the minute.”
McLaren’s dominance, exemplified by Piastri’s pole, only amplified Norris’ introspection. The team’s efforts have positioned them as frontrunners, yet Norris felt detached from that success.
'I Couldn't Care Lees About the Title'
With Piastri just 13 points behind in the drivers’ standings, a swing in the Australian’s favor looms if Norris’ struggles persist. Yet, Norris dismissed concerns about the championship picture with characteristic candor.
“I’m not concerned. I’m just concerned about me,” he said. “Couldn’t care less [about the championship]. Like I said, I don’t care about myself. I don’t care about what the others do.”
His focus remained squarely on his own performance, even as he acknowledged Piastri’s brilliance.
“I’ve always known Oscar’s good, and he’s quick, and he’s doing the job I know he can achieve with the car that we’ve got,” he said.
“So, yeah, well done to him. But I’m more worried about my own performance than others. So, yeah, I don’t care about the rest of it.”
Norris’ indifference to the title fight belies the stakes at play. As McLaren’s championship leader, his form is pivotal to sustaining their challenge against Red Bull and others.
Starting sixth in Bahrain, he faces a steep climb to match Piastri’s pace and fend off rivals like Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
The race offers a chance for redemption, but Norris’ mindset suggests a deeper reset is needed to rediscover his spark.
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