Lando Norris tried to play McLaren’s dominant start to the Bahrain Grand Prix, which had their opponents described Friday’s advantage of Pacesetters as “very big” and place them on another planet “.
McLaren sets out for this weekend event, the fourth round of the season, which led how the world championship ranking and a great favorite for victory in Sakhir after overcoming Friday two training sessions.
The Oscar Piastri and teammate Norris also completed one-two at a more representative evening meeting, when McLaren’s advantage compared to the field on a one-time timetable was beyond half a second.
The competing teams talk about the benefits of McLaren’s car performance and the Woking team, which insists that they are not really so far ahead of the pack, quickly became the theme of the early weeks of the 2025 season.
Mercedes’ George Russell said in the second round of the season in China that McLaren “should win every race”, while Max Verstappen Red Bull after his close victory over Norris and Piastri said in Japan last week that you “didn’t see me” if he managed MCL39.
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Listen to what Max Verstappen, Norris and Piastri – and Sky F1 Puntits – had to say about the comments of the Red Bull Post driver on Thursday
Verstappen confirmed on Thursday that he did not make a joke when he did this note that Norris replied to: “I have great respect for Max, but I also know that some things are not true.
“He can come and try our car every day he wants and I’m excited to see disappointment on his face when he gets out.”
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Verstappen says in P1 and P2 on the Bahrain Grand Prix didn’t have much fun and admits that Red Bull has to do quite a lot of work
Russell, the third fastest for Mercedes, said, “We expected McLaren to be a big step here and we saw it today. A long way forward in the middle sector where tires overheat.
“So we know we have a little work, but I think we’re in a position fighting for the next best (position).”
Verstappen was only seventh, 0.8 s from Piastri and said about the gap, “It’s big. We’ve made a slightly different approach to our Friday, so I think this gap is very big.”
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After FP1 and FP2 on the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said
And Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, whose team brought the floor to improve this weekend in an attempt to turn to a large extent disappointing to the season, after completing half a second in the fourth: “I try to push in a direction that allows me to extract a little more out of the car, but to be honest that the car’s potential and are not fast enough.
“When we look at McLarena, they are just on another planet. So it’s unpleasant, but it’s the way it is, and it actually motivates me to try to close this gap as soon as possible, but they’re incredibly fast.”
So what does McLaren say about their pace?
Despite the impressive Friday Friday, Norris started a session by the fact that the MCL39 actually felt “shocking” and “terrible” compared to how it happened in pre -season testing on the same circuit six weeks ago when the conditions were significantly colder.
And although the title leader accepted that “relatively our pace was still in a reasonable place”, he did not buy a large gap in the time schedule and indicated that the opponents did not turn their engines as McLaren on Friday.
“I don’t think they turned it out,” Norris said in an obvious reference to opponents’ engines.
“Everyone just looks at the timetables, they have no idea of information about who will make things and who doesn’t.
“It is worth three or four tenths here. It will immediately return us to the same position as Mercedes.
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Emphasizes Friday training sessions on the Grand Prix in Bahrain
“At that moment I wouldn’t say we’re faster.”
Team colleague Piastri seemed to be convinced more about McLaren’s advantage and said that their “one-bark pace looks strong and long-term running looked reasonable”, although the Australian also said that he expected a pack on Saturday.
“For that (the gap) was quite big, it was a surprise, but I think others will find a little more tomorrow and it will be quite close,” he said.
“It’s nice to have it now, but Bahrain is also a song you can overtake, and tire degradation is a big factor.
“The qualification is important, but we have to make sure we also have a good racing car.”
Bahrain GP Sky Sports F1
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Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle breaks down the best chance of winning in the Grand Prix Bahrain
Saturday 12th April
- 11.10: 10: F3 Sprint Race
- 13:15: Bahrain GP Practice Three (session starts at 13:30)
- 15:10: F2 Sprint
- 16:10: Bahrain GP qualification accumulation
- 17:00: Bahrain GP qualification
- 19:00: Ted’s qualifying notebook
Sunday 13th April
- 10.50: 00: F3 Feature race
- 12.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 14:30: Bahrain GP Building: Grand Prix Sunday
- 16:00: Bahrain Grand Prix
- 18:00: Bahrain GP Reaction: Chessboard
- 19:00: Ted’s notebook
Formula 1 continues its triple header in Sakhir on the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, Live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract whenever cancel
