Second by just 11 thousandths of a second, Norris remains somewhat uncertain, particularly regarding long-distance performance. He is generally satisfied with the car’s behavior on low fuel, where McLaren appears more competitive against its rivals, partly due to its impressive straight-line speed, the fastest among the top four teams.
In Las Vegas, the British team did not introduce significant technical updates, relying instead on the package debuted in Monza, save for a new feature: a cut on the upper flap of the front wing. This solution, inspired by a design seen in Italy but not previously used, allowed the drivers to test different configurations. Norris chose the higher downforce option, while Oscar Piastri opted for the new flap cut, highlighting their differing preferences.
Beyond these details, Norris’s primary concern lies with long-distance performance, which he described as almost shocking compared to the strong single-lap pace. During qualifying simulations, particularly on soft tires, the MCL38 performed well relative to competitors, aided by its straight-line speed advantage. Against Red Bull, the slowest on the straights, McLaren gained six-tenths, while the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari was narrower but still a useful tool in the battle for top grid spots.
Progress is still needed in slow corners, where Mercedes excelled, but the most crucial factor remains tire management. Finding the correct operating window for the tires is essential, as it generates the grip required to extract lap time. Throughout the sessions, drivers struggled with traction and braking stability, a clear indicator that tire performance is key, particularly on a low-grip surface like Las Vegas.
The poor grip, caused by low temperatures and a dirty track, was a major talking point for Norris, who joked that a road car might be faster under such conditions. “It’s very difficult, with very low grip. I feel like I could drive a road car faster than we’re doing right now,” he said.
On longer runs, Norris and others suffered from graining, the troublesome phenomenon that complicates tire management, reduces grip, and accelerates wear. Interestingly, other teams also encountered graining during qualifying attempts, showing how sensitive the tires are to temperature fluctuations.
Lando Norris admitted that battling front graining left him less optimistic about McLaren’s potential over longer stints, a problem also experienced in Monza. “I think the pace on low fuel is good, but when we went to the long runs, it was shocking. So yes, there’s a lot to analyze,” he added. “When we struggle with front graining and things like that, it becomes very difficult. But we have a good amount of time to work on it. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag—good on low fuel, more difficult with high fuel.”
However, Lando Norris’s impression of the long run was partly shaped by his track experience, including battling Williams’s Franco Colapinto and lifting off to create space. On the other hand, Oscar Piastri’s long-run performance was convincing and among the best, albeit with a caveat. McLaren started the stint aggressively, pushing harder than rivals who opted for a more conservative initial pace to avoid stressing the tires early.
This approach will undoubtedly be a key area of focus for McLaren overnight. Other teams showed a more linear progression despite the high degradation, particularly with mediums already heavily worn at the start of the session.
Track evolution is another factor to consider, as the surface improvement could influence performance. “Every lap we do, the track gets better and better. But at least this time, we knew what to expect,” said Oscar Piastri, who couldn’t complete a clean lap due to errors and a red flag interrupting his run.
“It was an interesting day. I think the pace is reasonable; we just need to try and put everything together. If you don’t get a clean lap here, you lose a lot with the track evolving so much. There are many positives, but we need to execute. Mercedes looked very fast today. Ferrari was strong too. But I think we’re definitely in the fight.” – the Australian driver concluded at the end of the second free practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
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