Randorris says McLaren failed to secure a front row spot in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The relatively strong winds during Friday’s running affected how challenging the driver’s consistency was as he handled crosswinds straight down his long back. McLaren delivered many laps that marked the team at different stages of FP1 and sprint qualification, but managed to run the SQ3 Oscar Pisastri figastris. Turn 14 hairpin.
“I made a mistake. I locked it in the last corner,” Norris said. “It’s not simply fast. It’s our hardest thing we’ve struggled today. More than that, honestly, there are so many mistakes, but it’s too hard for a car to drive.
“Throughout the day, we have struggled a bit with the front lock and with all the tailwinds at the final corner, so it’s much more aligned with Bahrain.
As for his mistakes, Norris overcompensated him for the car’s faults.
“I think both myself and Oscar had more trouble. “So it’s just a little harder to try and make up for not being quick enough.”
Earlier in the qualifying rounds with the two McLaren drivers actually delivered based on lap times, Norris believes Saturday’s improvements are more likely to come from himself than making further setup changes.
“It’s more mine than a car,” he said. “I can’t perfect the car, but no, this was just trying to push a little. You need to try and push a little. I think the car is still in a good window.
Teammate Piastri agreed to Norris’ evaluation, but at the end of Friday’s sprint qualifying session it felt the team didn’t take the appropriate strategic approach to tire use.
“SQ1 and SQ2 felt better, SQ3 tried to do something a little different and got out a lot earlier and tried to do two rounds, but in the end I didn’t find the best,” says Piastri. “I think that’s something we need to see, but I think the car’s pace is still very strong. I’m confident that tomorrow we’ll start fighting from third place.
“It was difficult. I think there’s a lot of grip on the surface of the truck, but it was very peaky and I think it was pretty difficult all day just being on top of the car.
“To be honest, I think it did a good job trying to tame it in Sprint’s qualifying. Maybe I just got a little wrong with my run plan. It was an interesting challenge. It’s way better than last season, but I think I can do better tomorrow.”