Friday after the second practice session in Formula 1 Saudi Aarabic Grand Prix, Lando Norris admitted that he was “confident”, but not “comfortable” at McLaren’s pace.
That comfort level can rise in the hours prior to qualification.
Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri led a McLaren One-Two in the last practice session of the week, with Norris’ Time of 1: 27,489 only 0.024 seconds for Piastri.
However, that time was also the fastest of the three practice sessions, and it brought Norris no less than 0.627 seconds to George Russell, while the Mercedes driver slept in third place.
Max Verstappen, the regulators champion, became fourth. His time was more than eight tenths behind Norris. Charles Leclerc completed the top five.
Now attention focuses on qualifying, with the expectation that McLaren will lock the front row, considering how both Norris and Piastri have carried out this week.
However, it was not so long ago when the same scenario was for qualifying with the Japanese Grand Prix. Inserder, it was straps that surprised the field – and the McLaren – Duo – by taking pole position. The Red Bull driver Wouled won the Japanese Grand Prix and gives McLaren something to think about in the following days.
Maybe Tosesons have been learned.