Lando Norris appeared to take aim at McLaren’s Formula 1 rivals, concluding that the new front wing technical directive “changed nothing” after McLaren romped to its third 1-2 of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The rule change introduced by the FIA from Spain onwards was created to try and close the competition at the front of the grid, with McLaren having previously benefitted from the so-called flexi-wings from the final third of last season.
Little difference was seen in the order with the amount of flexibility reduced on the front wings in the rules after both the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.
And McLaren’s dominance in Barcelona appears to prove that no discernible difference was made after it reduced the amount of flexibility under load on the front wings, the crux of the technical directive [TD].
When asked after the race if McLaren were expecting to experience any Imola-like performance issues, Norris told media including Motorsport Week that the rule change appeared to make little difference.
“I mean, I hope not, but the team are doing a very good job,” he said. “We have a lot of good competition. There was a lot of complaints about our car, and they introduced this TD and changed nothing.
“The team have done a very good job to just give us a good all-round car and the best car on the grid. So, we’re very proud to be able to go and drive those cars every weekend.”
Norris wary of competition despite other teams ‘catching up’
Race winner, Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri, also answered the same question, saying he expected Red Bull to be closer in Spain, but also surmised that teams will challenge the team strongly in other races.
Norris agreed, and intimated that the team needs to keep its momentum going through its work ethic to continue such a controlling dominant opening third of the season.
“Obviously, yesterday was the biggest margin of the year, but I think people seem to quickly forget how close the other qualifying sessions have been.
“They’ve been split by hundredths and thousandths, and there hasn’t been smooth sailing for us in every single one. So, I think that will be the case in future ones.
“But it’s clear we just have the best car on average, and we still seem stronger in the race. Although, it’s clear that the others are catching up. Our gaps in the race were probably a lot bigger in the beginning of the year than they are now.
“So I do think that our competitors are catching up. But, yeah, we just need to keep our heads down and keep working hard.”
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