If we focus on the second free practice session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Lando Norris stands out. Fast on a single lap (he set the fastest lap of the session with a 1:28.267), but also showing a race pace that is concerning for his rivals.
In fact, the gap between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the race simulation suggests that the two McLaren cars were simulating different race situations with non-matching fuel loads.
Also, the two McLaren drivers were running different car setups, with Piastri receiving the latest upgrades while Norris continued with the setup he started the season with.
Despite this, McLaren confirmed its status as the fastest car on the fast Jeddah street circuit. Yet, Norris isn’t as satisfied as he would like to be.
At the end of the second free practice session, the British driver admitted he focused more on his driving than on car setup. This should worry the competition because, by adjusting the MCL39, the team might find more performance than they have shown so far.
“Today was a day where I tried to work on my driving, I worked on myself more than on the car. I gained more confidence with the MCL39, so it’s a good way to start being productive. Gaining confidence, being productive. So, starting from the premise that I worked to find all of this, I think I’m on the right track.”
However, Norris, as we mentioned, isn’t completely calm. Max Verstappen, third in Free Practice 2, is less than three-tenths behind. Leclerc, with the best Ferrari, is fourth, four-tenths down but didn’t fully utilize the soft tire set dedicated to the qualifying simulation.
“We’re confident going into qualifying, but the rivals are really close. We probably hoped for a bigger advantage. And from what we’ve seen today, we don’t have it. I mean, we’re fast, we know we have a great car, but we’re certainly not in a comfortable position, not as comfortable as we would like.”
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