Norris relieved by McLaren's pace in Bahrain: “We surprised ourselves! »

McLaren was eagerly awaited in Bahrain, after the meteoric progress displayed in 2023. If the Oranges were rather discreet during the opening round of the 2024 season, the British clan leaves the Sakhir circuit with several reasons for satisfaction. Certainly, the overall result (Norris 6th, Piastres 8th) was not at the level of what we could have hoped for from the British team. However, let's not forget the situation McLaren found itself in twelve months ago, when both drivers were eliminated in Q1!

For Lando Norris, this first Grand Prix of the season was above all a great relief. The Briton expected the MCL38 to be further than its main rivals in the race, but the McLaren was able to fight on equal terms against the Mercedes and Aston Martin.

“A good sign for the future” says Norris

“In the conditions where the track was less grippy and a little warmer last week [during testing], we generally thought that Mercedes and Ferrari were in front, said Lando Norris. But we surprised ourselves. We even talked after the second free practice session [saying] that we were a little better than we thought. So that's a good sign. I think if we can do that at a track that we know isn't our best, that's a good sign for the future. »

“Today we had a little more difficulty with the balance, when the fuel load is higher, with the degradation of the tires, he added. Some things escaped us, especially in comparison with the Ferraris. But fighting against a Mercedes was pretty cool, so I'm happy with that. »

If he says to himself “satisfied with his 6th place”, Lando Norris is now approaching the rest of the season with much more optimism than a few days ago, after winter testing on the Sakhir circuit. The English driver is already looking ahead to the next event, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (March 7-9), and says he “more positive” for the British team in Jeddah.

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