Lando Norris has revealed that the McLaren machine is forcing it to drive in a “different way” by the Saudi Arabic Grand Prix this weekend.
Although Norris runs the three -point driver championship from teammate McLaren Oscar Piastri and eight points from Max Verstappen of Red Bull, he has not been completely satisfied with the car.
After his third car car in Bahrain, the British driver stated that he was “nowhere near” his ability compared to last year.
“There are things I will try to do differently and learn. I have a different approach to things in order to perform better,” Norris said on Thursday in Jeddah.
“I am forced to drive in another way and another way I am not used to and that is not normal to me at all. Nothing is a guarantee.
“It’s not like I will go out and things will click on the spot and I will feel great suddenly.
“But I think I just have a better understanding of things, I hope it gives me more confidence everyone together. But I trust us as a team trying to get as much from the car.”
Norris had a 23 -point lead to the piastri after the first round, as the latter revolved at his home event. However, the piastre has whitewashed his deficit with victory in China and Bahrain.
Norris ceased after Bahrain in an effort not to think about F1, but inevitably thought about the “difficulties” he was fighting with.
The 24-year-old has not clarified in what areas he needs to improve, but thinks he is not getting enough out of the car.
“I won’t be able to drive like me last year and how do I know I’m fine, which is strange to say in my seventh season of F1,” he said.
“But I’m still learning things. The car is definitely different than it was. I’m having to adapt a lot in uncomfortable ways, but I get in with maybe less pressure because maybe I understand some of these reasons a little better.
“I think I’m accepting more the wars and challenges I have in the minute.”
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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri give different views of how Bahrain’s Grand Prix went to McLaren
Norris: my current steering style doesn’t fit the car at all
Norris took eight pole positions, most of each driver, last year, but received only poles in the opening of the season in Australia so far in 2025.
Driver McLaren, whose best result in Saudi Arabia is seventh, showed to qualify when explaining his weaknesses after four rounds.
“My trust level was very high at the end of last season, not for any other reason, but I just understood the car. I realized how to drive it and I could go out and execute things perfectly,” he said.
“Now I can’t, just because my feelings are not there, my way of running is not at all appropriate, and I just hate not being able to know how I will go out and perform in a qualifying lap.
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Lando Norris and George Russell take a closer look at their racing footage in the cold room after Bahrain Grand Prix
“Last year, if you were to ask me, ‘Are you sure you would go to the qualification?”, I would be much more likely to say’ yes’ than what I am now, and that is just because I feel in the car itself. “
Qualification in Jeddah is one of the highlights of the calendar due to its high speed and greater risk against reward due to the proximity of the walls.
The piastri is the driver in shape after his prevailing victory in Bahrain and predicts that Verstappen can be a bigger factor this weekend.
“China was a song that was very limited (like Jeddah) and we were still very soon, so I’m not very worried,” he said.
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Before Saudi Arabia’s Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri says the championship ranking is ‘going in the right direction’.
“With such a high level of control, this is something that saved us in the last two years and this year can potentially save some others.
“I’m waiting for her to be pretty tight. It is a layout and trace that is similar in the speed of the corner with Suzuka, so we will see if Red Bull has returned to war. I expect us to be fast but with some objections.”
SKY SPORTS F1 SAUDIA SAUDIC Arabia program
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Check out some of the most dramatic moments that have occurred in Jeddah Corniche
Friday 18 April
- 10.50am: Practice F2
- 12:00: Practice of Academy F1
- 02:00: Practice of Saudi Arabian GP one (the session begins at 2.30pm)
- 3.55 Afternoon: F2 Qualification
- 4.40 Afternoon: Team Chiefs Conference
- 5.45 Afternoon: Saudi Arabia’s GP practice two (the session begins at 6pm)
- 7.25 Afternoon: Qualification of Academy F1
- 8.10 Afternoon: F1 display
Saturday 19 April
- 1.15 Afternoon: F1 Academy 1 Race 1
- 2.05 Afternoon: Saudi Arabia’s GP practice three (session starts at 2.30pm)*
- 4.10 Afternoon: F2 Sprint
- 5.10 Afternoon: Construction of Saudi Arabic GP qualification
- 6 Afternoon: Qualification of Saudi Arabia GP
Sunday April 20th
- 1 Afternoon: F1 Academy 2 Race 2
- 2.20 Afternoon: F2 Characteristics Race
- 4.30 Afternoon: Saudi Arabia’s GP Construction: Grand Prix Sunday
- 6 Afternoon: Saudi Arabia Grand Prix **
- 8:00: Saudi Arabia’s GP reaction: Controlled Flag
*Also live in Sky Sports Main event
Formula 1 fills the first triple head of 2025 in Jeddah with Saudi Arabia’s Grand Prix this weekend, Live at Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – without contract, cancel at any time
