'Clueless' Norris dejected: 'I can't figure out the car'

Lando Norris has qualified in P6 for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix as teammate Oscar Piastri took a convincing pole position. Since then the Briton has reacted to his underwhelming result.

'Clueless Norris needs a big reset'

"It was just every lap honestly. I've been off every lap this weekend, just not comfortable. No big complaints, the car's amazing, the car's as good as it has been the whole season, which is strong. I've been off it all weekend. Don't know why, just... Clueless on track at the minute, so... I don't know, I just need a big reset or something."

When pressed for an explanation, Norris' conclusion was brutally sincere. "Just not quick enough, simple as that."

Inevitably, the comparison to teammate Piastri was made, who will line up on pole position for the race tomorrow. What is it about the car that Norris finds so difficult?

"I don't know, because Oscar is doing a great job, so... I can't complain, you know? I'm not going to have the excuse that I can't drive my car. I mean, it's my job, is to drive whatever car I got, whether it's easy or hard. And I'm not doing a good enough job. So the team are doing an amazing job."

"I'm not going to complain about the car not suiting my needs. Yeah, I'm not comfortable. comfortable, it doesn't drive the way I like, but that's not an excuse. The driver's job is to drive whatever car they are given and I can't drive this car quick enough at the minute."

Norris can't figure out McLaren's F1 car

Norris then reveals he can't cope with the inconsistency of the MCL39.

"I just don't know how to approach it. I can't figure it out. Every time I try something it's good for one session and then it's the wrong thing for the next session because the winds change I just I just can't flow with the car and when I can't flow I'm just I'm not very quick so no I just got to work on myself I can't you know can't follow the team and the car is the best by a long way but clearly I'm just not clicking at the minute."

Regarding the shape his teammate is in, compared to Norris who has been on the backfoot and often slower than Piastri he replied:

"Couldn't care less [about how Piastri does]. Like I said, I care about myself. I don't care about what the others do. I've always known Oscar's good and he's quick and he's doing the job I know he can achieve with the car that we got so yeah, well done to him. But I'm more worried about my own performance than others'. So yeah, I don't care about the rest at the minute."

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Bahrain GP Qualifying Full Results | Norris fails to capitalise on McLaren's pace

Oscar Piastri got pole position, in Bahrain, providing a heavy contrast against the performance of Norris in P6. Read more