Lando Norris has firmly denied the notion that McLaren boasts the fastest car in Formula 1, attributing his competitive edge against Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the Spanish Grand Prix to a strategic tire advantage rather than sheer vehicle speed.
Despite finishing second to Verstappen, trailing by just 2.2 seconds at the Spanish Grand Prix, Norris was seen closing in on the Red Bull during the race’s final stint. Norris contends this wasn’t due to an inherently faster car but rather a well-executed tire strategy.
Norris explained that his longer initial stint of 23 laps, compared to Verstappen’s 17, allowed for shorter subsequent stints after his pit stops. This strategy placed him on medium Pirelli tires for 24 laps, while Verstappen was on them for 27, followed by a swap to soft tires that paid off in reducing the gap between them.
After his second pit stop, Norris found himself about eight seconds behind Verstappen, but with tires three laps fresher, he managed to shrink the gap to 2.2 seconds. “Even after reviewing last weekend, I don’t necessarily think we had a much quicker car than Red Bull,” Norris stated to the press, highlighting the crucial role his tire strategy played in his performance.
“I appeared quicker than Max because of my extended stints, creating a decent tire delta over him,” Norris elaborated. For motorsport aficionados unfamiliar with the term, a tire delta of even four laps can significantly impact lap times, particularly around a circuit like Barcelona.
Looking at the broader picture, Norris has said he feels only one percent away from securing more wins. However, he acknowledges that small factors, such as a few meters at the race start, make a significant difference in battles against Verstappen and Red Bull. While resisting hyper-criticism, he noted, “Typically, my starts have been very good and consistent, among the best.”
Norris emphasized the critical little things that need fine-tuning, suggesting more preparation and practice might bridge this one-percent gap. Yet, he remains confident, stating, “We’re competing against one of F1’s best drivers and top-performing teams, so execution must be flawless to challenge them.”
In summary, Lando Norris attributes his strong performance against Red Bull not to McLaren having the fastest car, but rather to a shrewd tire strategy. By keenly focusing on these strategic elements, Norris remains optimistic about McLaren’s competitive prospects, even against the formidable Red Bull team.
