P1racenews AI automatic summary:
From being the Formula 1 car that was fast everywhere, on any day, on any track, the McLaren looked a little ordinary around the Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Mark Hughes looks at why…
The McLaren appeared to be a bit ordinary at the Circuit of The Americas on Friday, with Lando Norris falling over two tenths off the pace in sprint qualifying. Red Bull, previously labeled as inconsistent, showed improvement, allowing Max Verstappen to secure the sprint pole. The performance at Austin could mark a crucial turning point in the 2024 world title battle, hinging on Norris consistently outperforming Verstappen in upcoming races. Both McLaren and Red Bull introduced significant upgrades, with Ferrari dominating practice times but facing challenges in sprint qualifying due to tire balance. Despite Norris’s efforts to improve his lap times, Verstappen’s Red Bull demonstrated superior speed and tire management, setting the stage for an intense competition. Verstappen’s focus remains on fine-tuning the car’s balance and optimizing tire performance for the remainder of the weekend races.
