Lando Norris, McLaren driver, faces a considerable challenge at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix after being outperformed in qualifying by his teammate Oscar Piastri. With a time six-tenths slower than poleman Kimi Antonelli, Norris will start the race from fifth place.
During the weekend in Suzuka, Piastri has shown outstanding performance, while Norris suffered a hydraulic leak that limited his testing to only 16 laps during the second practice session, compared to Piastri’s 28 laps. Mechanical difficulties continued during the third session, forcing McLaren to replace Norris’s electric motor, who could only complete 13 laps.
The problems have affected his preparation for qualifying, and Norris acknowledged that he has been forced to make up for lost time: “I have certainly been playing catch-up all weekend. I’ve only been able to do 13 laps with high fuel, so luck hasn’t been on my side thus far,” the Briton stated.
This event is the third round of the 2026 season, which introduces new regulations with a lighter chassis and a power unit that relies more on electrical energy. With so many novelties, drivers and teams are constantly adapting, and limited track experience, such as that experienced by Norris, has a significant impact.
The 26-year-old driver acknowledges that coping with these new conditions is not easy at all: “We are on a new track with a higher grip asphalt, which makes driving the car different from what we have done in previous races. There are many details to consider, and not all the time I’ve lost today can be explained just by the mechanical issues,” he added.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
