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McLaren’s Lando Norris expressed disappointment after Friday practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, acknowledging that his team was “quite a long way off” the pace. Norris, currently trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points, said McLaren was about 0.3-0.4 seconds slower than the leading teams, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton setting the pace.
Norris was held up by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly on his fastest lap, ending the session in 17th place. However, his teammate Oscar Piastri placed fifth, which Norris said was “more where we are.” Despite being optimistic about improvements, Norris admitted, “We have quite a lot to find compared to Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.”
McLaren had stated earlier that they would prioritize Norris in upcoming races as he chases the title. However, Norris acknowledged the low-grip conditions in Baku were hindering their performance, making the circuit particularly challenging for the team.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Leclerc topped the timesheets despite a crash in the first session and a technical issue in the second. Red Bull, with Verstappen setting the fastest time in the first session, also made gains after struggles in previous races, while Mercedes showed signs of improvement after reverting to an older car setup.
