McLaren's pace not as dominant as it seems, warns Norris
Lando Norris downplays McLaren's apparent advantage at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite leading a team 1-2 in FP2 ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.
Man deep in contemplation
While Charles Leclerc's 10-place grid penalty for an energy store change boosts McLaren's constructors' championship hopes, Norris remains cautious about the team's true pace.
"The car's been feeling good, but it certainly looks better than it is," Norris explained. "I don't think any of the others turned up their engines yet, so we're still going to have a tough fight tomorrow."
The British driver identified minor adjustments needed for both qualifying and race pace, particularly focusing on tire management and finding the optimal balance between performance and preservation during longer runs.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella maintains that Leclerc's penalty doesn't reduce the pressure in their fight for their first constructors' title since 1998. "We talk about Charles Leclerc. We talk about Ferrari. It's a very strong combination," Stella emphasized. "Even with the penalty, I wouldn't be surprised if we see them rapidly fighting for the top positions."
With Ferrari trailing McLaren by 21 points in the constructors' championship, the final race weekend remains crucial for both teams' season objectives.
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