McLaren driver Lando Norris is finding his car much easier to drive at the Japanese GP than he did at in China, despite failing to get pole position at Suzuka.
The British driver seemed to be the clear favourite for Japanese GP pole position as continually topped the timing sheets and looked completely settled in his McLaren, but a storming lap from Max Verstappen when it mattered most led to the Red Bull man sitting in P1 and Norris settling for P2.
There was only just over a hundredth of a second between Verstappen and Norris, so the Melbourne GP winner is still in with a great chance of winning the race on Sunday, and he will have McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri nearby as the Australian put his car on P3. Speaking during the post-qualifying press conference, Norris admitted that the car is much more to his liking this time.
An improved ride for Norris
During the Chinese GP, Norris never really looked like he was going to catch Piastri who led the race from pole position until the chequered flag, and any chance he had of catching his teammate dissipated when he developed a serious brake issue.
He ended up having to coast the car around the Shanghai International Circuit and was almost caught by George Russell on the final lap of the race. This time in Japan, Norris says that the car is back where he wants it to be.
“Much happier than China. Yeah, the car’s a lot more back to my liking. I’ve got some front end in the car and I’m much, much happier with that. I’ve been feeling confident all weekend,” Norris told select members of the press, including Total-Motorsport.com.
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“If quali was in FP1 and it was a Sprint race, I feel like I’d be much further ahead, but everyone’s good enough that by the time you get to quali, they kind of catch up a bit. I’ve been feeling good, the car’s been feeling good from the off as well. We’ve been chipping away.
“I think between both of us we’ve been quickest in every session bar this one, so it’s the little frustrating one. The corners I still struggle with, the corners I’m still not happy with, are the corners I still just don’t have the front end and I don’t have the grip in the car when I need it from the front.
“It’s clear what suits me and what doesn’t, or just what allows me to be quick and what doesn’t. China was one of those weaker tracks, and we come here and the car’s a lot more how I want it. Much better again.”
Norris thinks rain could play a factor
McLaren have become accustomed to leading races so far this season but they will be chasing Max Verstappen into Turn 1 at Suzuka. What makes the situation even more unpredictable is that there is a very good chance of rain on Sunday.
“No one knows what the weather is going to be like tomorrow, so no point trying to think of too many things. We’ll do our homework tonight. It’s probably going to be a bit of a race like Melbourne, and that was an exciting race for everyone,” Norris said.
“Now I’ve got to try and do some overtakes, you know? So we’ll see. It’s exciting. I think the unknown of the weather is going to make it exciting and nerve-racking for everyone. And I’ve got to try to get past the guy on my left, so yeah, excited.”
