Saudi Arabian GP: Lando Norris says 2025 McLaren car is forcing him to drive in a different way | F1 News

Lando Norris revealed that the McLaren car is forcing him to drive in a “different” way from the Saudi Grand Prize race this week.

Although Norris leads the drivers championship with three points from his teammate McLaren Oscar Piasstri and eight points of Max Verstapen from Red Bull, he was not completely satisfied with the car.

After leading to third place in Bahrain, the British driver stated that “anywhere near” his ability compared to last year.

“There are things that I will try to do in a different way and get to know them. I have a different approach to things for the best performance,” Norris said on Thursday in Jeddah.

“I am forced to drive a different way and a different way I do not get used to and this is not normal for me at all. Nothing is a guarantee.

“It is not as if I’m going out and things will click in place and I will feel suddenly.

“But I think I have a better understanding of things, and we hope that it will give me more confidence together. But I trust us as a team that tries to get the utmost benefit from the car.”

Norris advanced 23 points on Piastri after the first round, where the latter weaved in his domestic event. However, PiaSSTri has reduced his inability to win in China and Bahrain.

Norris took a vacation after Bahrain in an attempt to not think about F1, but inevitably thought about the “difficulties” he was fighting with.

The 24 -year -old did not explain the fields he needs to improve, but he feels that he is not extracted enough of the car.

“I will not be able to drive as I did last year and as I know I am good, it is strange to say in my seventh season of F1,” he said.

“But I am still learning things. The car is definitely different from the way it was.

“I think I accept more than the struggles and challenges I face at the present time.”

Norris: My current leadership style is not appropriate for the car at all

Norris held eight polar positions, more than any driver, last year, but he only took a pole at the opening of the season in Australia so far in 2025.

The McLaren driver, which results from the best in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in seventh place, pointed to qualifying when explaining his weaknesses after four rounds.

He said: “The level of my confidence was very high at the end of last season, and not for any other reason, but I just understood the car. I understood how to drive it and I can go out and implement things perfectly.”

“Now I cannot, just because my feelings are not present, my way of driving is not appropriate at all, and I just hate not being able to know how I will go out and do a qualified bosom.

“Last year, if you ask me, are you confident of going to qualify?” I was more likely to say “Yes” than I am now, and this is only because of my feeling in the car itself. “

Qualification in Jeddah is one of the prominent points in the calendar due to its high speeds and greater risks for the reward due to the proximity of the walls.

PiaSSTRI is the driver in its shape after his dominant victory in Bahrain and Verstapen is expected to be a bigger factor this week.

“China was a very limited path [like Jeddah] We were still very fast, so I don’t feel excessive anxious. “

“With such a high level of grip, this is something that has saved us in the past two years, and this year may save some others.

“I expect it to be very narrow. It is a layout and tracking that resembles turns to Suzuka, so we will see whether Red Ball has returned to the battle. I expect us to be fast but with some opposition.”

Sky SPORTS F1’s GP’S GP

Friday, April 18

• 10.50 am: F2 practice
• 12 pm: F1 academy practice
• 2 pm: Saudi GP practice (one (the session begins at 2.30 pm)
• 3.55 pm: f2 qualifiers
• 4.40 pm: The press conference of the team presidents
• 5.45 pm: The practice of GP, Saudi Arabia, two (the session begins at 6 pm)
• 7.25 pm: F1 Academy qualified
• 8.10 pm: F1 offer

Saturday, April 19

• 1.15 pm: F1 1 Academy Race
• 2.05 pm: Three GP GP Practice (the session begins at 2.30 pm)*
• 4.10 pm: f2 sprint
• 5.10 pm: Saudi Arabian GP
• 6 pm: GP Cadian

Sunday, April 20

• 1 pm: F1 2 Academy Race
• 2.20 pm: F2 Features
• 4.30 pm: Saudi Arabian GP accumulation: Grand Prix Sunday
• 6 pm: Saudi Grand Prix**
• 8 pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: a volatile flag

*I also live on the main sky sports event

Formula 1 completed the first triple head of 2025 in Jeddah with the Saudi Grand Prix race this week, on the air on Sky SPORTS F1. Stream Sky SPORTS at now – no contract, cancellation at any time