McLaren car's wind sensitivity hampers Norris and Piastri in Chinese GP qualifying
Lando Norris cites difficult driving conditions and car handling issues as key factors in McLaren's underwhelming Sprint qualifying performance at the Chinese Grand Prix. The team struggled with high winds, particularly affecting the long back straight and Turn 1.
Despite showing promising pace throughout FP1 and Sprint qualifying, McLaren couldn't secure a front-row position. Oscar Piastri managed third place, while Norris finished sixth after running wide at Turn 14.
"I made a mistake — I locked up in the last corner," Norris explained. "The car was too difficult to drive, especially with front locking issues and struggles in the last corner due to tailwind. These conditions reminded us of our challenges in Bahrain."
McLaren F1 car in orange livery
Norris acknowledged that his errors stemmed from overcompensating for the car's limitations, pushing too hard to make up for lack of speed. He believes improvement opportunities lie more with his driving approach than car setup changes.
Piastri, while agreeing with Norris's assessment, pointed to strategic decisions regarding tire usage in SQ3 as an additional factor. "We tried something different by going out earlier and attempting two laps, which might not have been optimal," he said. Despite these challenges, Piastri remains confident about fighting from third position in the upcoming race.
Both drivers noted the track's peculiar characteristics, with Piastri highlighting its high but inconsistent grip levels. Despite these challenges, the overall package shows improvement compared to last season, suggesting potential for better performance in future sessions.