McLaren driver Lando Norris has downplayed the British team’s recent upgrade package, describing it as “not really much better” than previous versions following a challenging start to his Mexico City Grand Prix weekend at the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
The 24-year-old Briton missed FP1 to make room for IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward, returning for FP2 with a new floor on his MCL38. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, however, ran the previous version.
Despite the aerodynamic upgrade, the Australian outpaced Lando Norris in FP2, finishing in an impressive second place, while Lando Norris ranked fifth. For the British driver, the new floor brought minimal improvement, even if the setup differences allowed for a more direct analysis.
This early feedback from Lando Norris hints at a possible shift from McLaren’s successful upgrade strategy seen throughout the 2024 Formula 1 championship, where the team has generally introduced developments with notable and consistent results relative to their F1 competitors: “[It’s] good for back to back [comparisons], but it’s not really much better,” the McLaren driver pointed out after the Friday practice sessions in Mexico City – “Oscar was quick today. I think I’m a bit off, so I’ve got some work to do, but we’ll see.” – he added.
Falling Behind
It was evident that Lando Norris was dissatisfied with his performance in the extended 90-minute FP2 session, which Pirelli used to test potential tire compounds for 2025.
Trailing championship leader Max Verstappen by 57 points, each remaining race of the 2024 Formula 1 campaign—starting with Mexico—holds vital importance for Lando Norris and McLaren as they also battle Red Bull and Ferrari for the Constructors’ title. However, the unique challenges of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez seem to be a stumbling block for him; he admitted he was “playing a little bit of catch up” and still lacks a “good feeling” on the circuit.
When asked for his thoughts on the session, the British driver responded: “Not great. [A] lack of laps, compared to most others. Playing a little bit of catch up and just not a great feeling. It’s hard to get a good feeling around this circuit, because it’s very low grip. I’m sure it’ll be fine, but yeah, not the most comfortable, so a bit of work to do.” – the McLaren driver concluded ahead of the final free practice session for the Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
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