Formula One is in Baku this weekend with Norris determined to close the 62 point gap to Max Verstappen and Red Bull in the title race.
With just eight races to go, McLaren are putting their full support behind the British driver, but they have not gotten off to a good start at the notoriously tricky Baku City Circuit.
Norris finished Friday’s first practice session in fourth, half-a-second behind Verstappen, and was way down in 17th in the second session.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc recovered from a crash in FP1 to finish quickest in FP2, with Mercedes also looking fast.
‘We’re quite a long way off. I’m having to push way too much to try and get a lap time out of it, clearly,’ a dejected Norris said afterward.
‘I think where Oscar [Piastri, Norris’ teammate] was is kind of more where we are. If we nail it, we’re just about there, but I’m sure the [competitors] are not even close to nailing it yet.
‘We have quite a lot to find compared to Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. They’re all very similar, and then there’s a good three, four tenths gap back to us. So, a lot of work for us to do.
‘There have been plenty of circuits we’ve not been quick. People just love to believe that we’re the best everywhere, but we’re not.
‘We’ve been doing a very good job so far, a better job than other teams, but we’ve always known the Ferraris are very quick here. With these kind of track conditions, Mercedes is going to be very quick.
‘The car’s still not bad. I’m sure we can still get a lap time out of it, but we’re not as clearly ahead as we have been on the races.’
Encouragingly for Norris, Baku has almost always thrown up a surprise on race day, with Sergio Perez the only repeat winner at the track since it joined the calendar in 2016.
Verstappen claimed his only win at the street track in 2022 and despite having not won since the Spanish Grand Prix back in June, the three-time champion is ‘confident’ he and Red Bull can pull off a great result on Sunday.
‘I think, overall, a good day. We learned quite a bit. Now it’s just about tidying up the things that we tried,’ the Dutchman said.
‘But I think, so far, we have been more competitive this weekend, so that’s a positive. We just need to get the balance together a bit more. I’m quite confident that we can be competitive.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE : Max Verstappen responds to offer to join Aston Martin following Adrian Newey move
MORE : Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen break silence on Adrian Newey’s Aston Martin move
MORE : How Adrian Newey’s £30million Aston Martin salary compares to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
