JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Lando Norris enters this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a three-point lead in the Formula 1 standings over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Still, Norris labels his early season as a struggle to learn the McLaren MCL39 race car. Norris has finished on the podium in all four races and earned one victory along the way.
The British hotshoe said he’s had to alter his driving style.
“I’ve not been satisfied how the last few weekends have been, not because they’ve been bad weekends necessarily but because they’ve not been as good as they should be and as they can be,” said Norris. “I’m trying to do the best possible and when things aren’t going your way and things are not working as they should be then I’ve been a little bit disappointed. Some of that includes me having to drive in different ways and learn different things and that’s something I know I’m having to come into this weekend and try and do.
“I’m not going to be able to necessarily drive like I did last year and like I know I’m good at,” Norris added. “Which is weird to say in my seventh season of F-1 but I’m still learning things, the car is definitely different to how it’s been so I’m having to adapt a lot in uncomfortable ways.
“But I come in with probably less pressure, I put less pressure on myself because I probably understand a little bit more some of these reasons.”
Norris addressed his comments in Bahrain when he said: “I feel like I’ve never driven a Formula 1 car before.”
“I’m just honest about my feelings, I’m not trying to put myself down or make myself feel good,” said Norris. “I’m just telling you the truth about how I feel. That’s it.
“That’s what makes me perform, it’s what makes me feel confident but it’s also because I just want to win and I’m not happy if I don’t do well and I’m not happy if I’m sixth or make mistakes in qualifying.”
