P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris insists McLaren is not comfortably quicker than the rest of the field at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as its constructors’ title hopes took a boost due to a penalty for Charles Lecle…
Lando Norris emphasized that McLaren isn’t significantly faster than the competition at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite benefiting from a penalty for Charles Leclerc. The penalty for Leclerc, a 10-place grid drop for changing the energy store in his car, decreases Ferrari’s chances of catching up to McLaren in the constructors’ championship. Even though Norris topped the timesheets in FP2, he downplayed McLaren’s superiority, mentioning areas for improvement, particularly managing fuel levels and tire wear. Norris acknowledged that McLaren’s issues are more about fine-tuning rather than major weaknesses. Team principal Andrea Stella reiterated that the penalty for Leclerc doesn’t ease the pressure on McLaren to secure their first constructors’ title since 1998, emphasizing the strength of Ferrari and the need to remain focused and energized.
