Lando Norris has asserted that people should stop “talking crap” and “recalibrate” their expectations about the pace advantage McLaren that possesses in Formula 1.
Norris’ podium run in 2025 came to an end in Saudi Arabia as he recovered to an eventual fourth place from the qualifying shunt that resigned him to 10th on the grid.
The Briton was the sole driver in the top 10 to start on the Hard compound, but he still gained two spots on the opening lap as Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly clashed.
Having overtaken Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes with ease, Norris lost priceless time when he experienced trouble completing a move on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.
The Briton twice got through on his compatriot into Turn 27, but then lost the spot as Hamilton utilised DRS to repass him on the approach to Turn 1 to maintain sixth.
Norris learnt his lesson as he was patient the third time around to capture the position into Turn 1, but the two laps he wasted behind the Ferrari would prove decisive.
The race ended with Norris a second behind Charles Leclerc as he missed out on the podium, but he denied that he could have done more to eclipse the sister Ferrari.
“Yeah, I think it’s the best we could have done today,” Norris said. “Of course, it’s a shame to miss out on a podium.
“We were close, you know, it’s always hard to judge those things.
“Charles drove a good race, good first stint. Gave himself that opportunity to have a decent set of tyres in the second half.
“And I think he only boxed three or four laps after, five laps after maybe, so not enough to get him.”
Norris has acknowledged that he must dial out the mistakes over a single lap that have consigned him to damage limitation drives during the previous two weekends.
“But yeah, I think I’m pleased on the whole. I just make life tough for myself, especially when it’s a race like that, you know,” he continued.
“So it would have been much easier, a lot more chill to drive out the front. In some ways it’s a bit easier, so I’ve got to help myself out a little bit and have a better Saturday.”
Norris insists McLaren advantage exaggerated
Oscar Piastri capitalised on Max Verstappen being penalised when he cut the opening corner and preserved the lead at the start to ensure McLaren collected the win.
However, Norris, who has relinquished the championship lead to his team-mate, has insisted McLaren’s margin over the opposition isn’t as vast as has been depicted.
Asked whether he was surprised about Red Bull and Ferrari’s pace, Norris retorted: “Nope. I don’t know why people are so surprised.
“They’re just as quick in quali in most sessions, they’re just as quick as us in the race.
“Just because we’re quick in practice, people just keep coming up with all this crap.
“No, I mean, they can keep saying what they want. We don’t believe we’re much ahead, as showed.
“I think probably Max [Verstappen] was the quickest out there today, if he didn’t have that five-second penalty. So we have work to do.
“People keep saying that we’re the best, we’re the quickest, blah, blah, blah.
“But it’s just because we show a bit more pace in practice and then we don’t have anything left when he gets to quali.
“But that’s our way of doing things. That’s how we feel we optimise things. If we didn’t do it that way, we’d be even further back.
“No, I’m happy with the work we’re doing. People just need to recalibrate. We have a great car, probably the quickest on average, for sure. But clearly not enough.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris not expecting instant turnaround to 2025 struggles despite McLaren answers
