F1: McLaren's Lando Norris Aims for Consistency at Australian GP

Melbourne, March 14 (NationPress) McLaren's Lando Norris experienced a varied first day at the Australian Grand Prix, achieving impressive times during practice while expressing worries about inconsistencies during his low-fuel runs.

Despite leading the pack in FP1 at the Albert Park Circuit, the British driver concluded FP2 in third place, trailing behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and his teammate Oscar Piastri.

Although McLaren showcased strong performance on Friday, solidifying their position as one of the top teams this season, Norris expressed dissatisfaction with his car's handling in certain circumstances. After FP2, he acknowledged that while the team made a commendable start, there were still areas requiring improvement, especially under light fuel conditions.

"Too many inconsistencies, too many problems," Norris stated when discussing his performance on Friday. "I think it's been a good start to the weekend. We’ve established a solid baseline, but I am certainly not pleased or confident with the car in terms of achieving the best balance and maintaining consistency, particularly with low fuel loads."

The British driver compared his current challenges to those he faced in Bahrain earlier this season, noting similar stability issues with reduced fuel loads. "I felt good on high fuel, but on low fuel, similar to Bahrain – too many inconsistencies, too many problems, making it a bit of a struggle."

Despite his reservations, Norris remained cautiously hopeful about McLaren's competitiveness. When asked if the team would be a formidable contender this season, he recognized the tough competition ahead. "I don’t know what positive means, but I anticipate we'll be strong. Like we’ve mentioned all along, we’ll be competitive, as will Ferrari and Mercedes. We'll just have to wait and see."

Conversely, home favorite Oscar Piastri maintained a more optimistic perspective regarding McLaren’s performance, labeling Friday as a "pretty encouraging" day. The Australian finished second in FP2 and was pleased with the car’s inherent pace, though he acknowledged the necessity for further adjustments.

"I believe the pace was quite solid; there are still a few aspects to refine to enhance the car’s feel," Piastri remarked. "The underlying pace appears robust. I’m quite satisfied with today’s efforts. The next two days will likely be quite different, so we can’t fully gauge today's significance, but it feels promising."

The Melbourne native has the opportunity to achieve a remarkable result in front of his home supporters but remained cautious when discussing his chances for a podium finish. "It’s difficult to predict. The weather is expected to change significantly on Sunday, which could complicate things, but I believe the car's underlying pace is strong," he noted.

"Ferrari has shown impressive speed today, and Mercedes has been quick at various times as well. Things are looking optimistic, but we don’t just want to aim for the podium; we aspire for the top step."