McLaren driver Lando Norris has said the conditions existent at Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix have seen “one kph” be
Norris struggled with tyre temperature on the softest rubber in Sprint Qualifying, affecting his performance in the first two stages of SQ3. McLaren’s difficulties with the Soft compound also affected his teammate Piastri, resulting in both qualifying on the third row. Norris had to switch between Medium and Soft compounds in Q3, feeling more confident on the Medium but ultimately setting his fastest time on the Soft. Despite not having new sets of Medium tyres available, Norris believes he could have achieved the same time on the Medium compound if he had another set.
Verstappen secured pole position but mentioned that his Red Bull car didn’t feel good to drive due to tire performance issues. Norris echoed the sentiment, explaining how slight changes in driving could have a significant impact on lap times. The hot conditions and track surface at Miami International Autodrome added to the challenges faced by drivers, causing inconsistencies in performance. Norris acknowledged that finding the right balance with tire management was crucial in optimizing lap times in such challenging conditions.
