Lando Norris revealed that Auto McLaren forces him to ride “in another way” since this weekend Saudi Arab Grand Prix.
Although Norris leads the drivers’ championship three points from teammate McLaren Oscar Piastri and eight points from Max Verstappen Red Bull, he was not completely satisfied with the car.
After his roller coaster ride to the third place in Bahrain, the British driver said he “nowhere near” his skills compared to last year.
“There are things that I will try to do differently and learn about them. I have a different approach to things to work better,” Norris said on Thursday ahead in Jeddah.
“I am forced to drive in a different way and in a different way that I am not used to, and that is not normal for me at all. Nothing is a guarantee.
“It’s not as if I go out and things get to the place and suddenly I will feel great.
“But I think I just have a better understanding of things, hopefully it gives me more confidence. But I have confidence in us as a team that tries to make the most of the car.”
After the first round, Norris had a 23-point lead over Piastri when he turned to his home event. Piastri, however, overthrew his deficit by winning in China and Bahrain.
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Experience all the maxima and minima from the Lando Norrisa race on the Bahrain Grand Prix that saw him to complete the third
Norris took his time off after Bahrain in an effort to think about F1, but inevitably thought about the “difficulties” he was struggling with.
The 24 -year -old man has not worked on what areas he needs to improve, but he feels he doesn’t get enough out of the car.
“I will not be able to drive like last year and I know I’m good, which is strange to say in my seventh season F1,” he said.
“But I’m still learning things. The car is definitely different from how it was. I have to adapt a lot to an unpleasant way, but I come up with probably less pressure because I probably understand some of these reasons.
“I think I accept the fighting and challenges that I have at the moment.”
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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri give different opinions on how the Bahrain Grand Prix went for McLaren
Norris: My current driving style does not suit the car at all
Norris took eight positions last year, most of the drivers, but in 2025 he had taken the pole in the Australia season.
The McLaren driver, whose best result in Saudi Arabia is seventh, pointed out the qualification, when he explained his weaknesses after four rounds.
“My level of confidence was very high at the end of last season, not for another reason, but I understood the car. I understood how to drive it, and I could go out and do things perfectly,” he said.
“Now I can’t, just because my feelings aren’t there, my way of driving is not at all appropriate, and I just hate that I won’t be able to know how to go out and get off in the qualifying round.
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Lando Norris and George Russell look closer at their racing shots in the cooling room after the Bahrain Grand Prix
“Last year, if you asked me,” Are you sure you qualify? “, I would be much more likely to say” yes “than what I am now, and that’s just because I feel in the car itself.”
The Jeddah qualification is one of the peaks in the calendar due to its high speeds and the greater risk of VS reward due to the proximity of the walls.
Piastri is a driver in the form of his dominant victory in Bahrain and predicts that Verstappen could be a bigger factor this weekend.
“China was a track that was very limited (like Jeddah) and we were still very fast, so I’m not too concerned,” he said.
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In front of the Saudi Arab Grand Prix Oscar Piastri, it says that the position of the championship is “going in the right direction”.
“With such a high level of adhesion, this is something that has saved us in the last few years and this year it can potentially save some others.
“I expect it to be quite tight. It’s a layout and track that is similar to turning speeds like Suzuka, so we’ll see if Red Bull will come back in the fight. I expect to be fast but with some opposition.”
Saudi Arab Arabic spelling Sky Sports F1
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Look back on some of the most dramatic moments that took place on the Jeddah Cornich circuit
Friday 18th April
- 10.50: 00: Practice F2
- 12:00: Practice Academy F1
- 14:00: Saudi Arabic practice GP One (session starts at 14:30)
- 15:55: F2 qualification
- 16:40: Team boss’s press conference
- 17:45: Saudi Arab practical practice two (session starts at 18:00)
- 19:25: Qualification of the Academy F1
- 8.10pm: Show F1
Saturday April 19
- 13:15: F1 Academy Race 1
- 14:50: Saudi Arabic practice GP three (session starts at 14:30)*
- 16:10: F2 Sprint
- 17:10: Saudi Arab GP qualification
- 18:00: Qualification of Saudi Arab GP
Sunday 20th April
- 13:00: F1 Academy Race 2
- 2,20pm: Feature Feature Feature Feature
- 16:30: Saudi Arabic practical authority: Sunday Grand Prix
- 18:00: Saudi Arabic Grand Prize*
- 20:00: Saudi Arab GP Reaction: Chessboard
*Live also at the main Sky Sports event
Formula 1 will complete its first triple head from 2025 in Jeddah with the Saudi Arab Grand Prix this weekend, Live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract whenever cancel
