Lando Norris issued an update on the health of his McLaren after a Mercedes probe found the cause of his non-start at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
The reigning World Champion was forced to sit out the entire race at the Shanghai International Circuit, along with teammate Oscar Piastri.
Both of the Woking-based outfit’s drivers suffered what was deemed ‘electrical faults’ for the reason of the embarrassing double-DNS.
The anonalies led to Team Principal Andrea Stella calling for an investigation with engine supplier Mercedes’ High Performance Powertrains division.
A report by RacingNews365 has determined that a battery pack issue was the catalyst, but unlike Piastri’s, Norris’ could not be salvaged.
This means that the Briton is down to just two battery packs for the remainder of the season, striking a blow to the champion’s hopes of successfully defending his crown.
Ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, in which he finished second, Norris revealed the extent of the work with Mercedes to “figure things out,” and the accompanying disappointment of the issues in the first place.
“Alongside HPP, I think it took a little bit of time to figure things out, but yes,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“Of course, it hurt us as a team, certainly didn’t make us look good to have two cars not starting a race. I think what hurt more is the fact it was out of our control.
“But with HPP we’ve worked hard to figure things out, to understand how it happened, why it happened, and of course we’ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“But you live and you learn. It was a tough one for all of us.”
Norris will naturally be able to take up more battery packs should he need it, but will incur penalties, akin to engine change ones, as part of the new F1 regulations.
McLaren will be hoping to bounce back from its tough start to the campaign in Suzuka, a race in which the team has historically taken seven Drivers’ titles.
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