Norris downplays McLaren edge: ‘People keep coming up with this crap’

Lando Norris has played down the notion that McLaren enjoys a comfortable edge over its direct rivals, suggesting the perception is not rooted in reality - despite teammate Oscar Piastri's clean win in Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The British driver made his own life difficult after a disastrous qualifying session on Saturday around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

On his first flying lap in Q3, he lost control of his MCL39 through the Turn 4/5 chicane and clattered the side of his car into the barriers, bringing out the Red flags.

Not only did this necessitate length repairs on his McLaren, Norris was also forced to start the Grand Prix from a lowly P10 on the starting grid.

Nevertheless, the 25-year-old recovered well on a circuit that is notoriously tricky to overtake on, finishing the 50-lap event in fourth place.

Meanwhile, his teammate Oscar Piastri crossed the finish line in first with Red Bull's Max Verstappen in second, and Charles Leclerc completing the podium for Ferrari.

'People Need To Recalibrate'

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Grand Prix, Norris was questioned about the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari, with both teams seemingly matching McLaren during the race.

Norris believes that they are a lot closer performance-wise than many think.

"I don't know why people are so surprised, they're just as quick in qualifying 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.

"We don't believe we're much ahead as showed. I think probably Max was the quickest out there today, another five-second penalty, so we have work to do."

The Briton added that McLaren's recent dominance of practice sessions may be making viewers overestimate the performance of the MCL39 compared to its competition.

"People keep saying that we're the best, we're the quickest," he continued. 

"But it's just because we show a bit more pace in practice and then we don't have anything left when it gets to qualifying, but that's our way of doing things.

"People just need to recalibrate that we're not, you know, we have a great car and probably the quickest on average for sure, but clearly not enough."

• Read Also: Piastri prevails in Saudi Arabian GP – takes championship lead

Reflecting on his Sunday evening in Jeddah, Norris reckoned he had made the most of a challenging race.

"I think it’s the best we could have done today,” he 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.

"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 added.

“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.”

Piastri has overtaken Norris at the top of the Drivers' Standings, with the latter now ten points behind his McLaren teammate.

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