P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris remained conservative about McLaren’s hopes of challenging frontrunners Red Bull and Ferrari in Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix
In FP2, Norris was in ninth place, two spots behind his teammate Oscar Piastri, providing a more accurate picture of McLaren’s speed. Norris downplayed McLaren’s performance in FP1, mentioning that the car had “no strengths” at Albert Park Circuit. Despite being consistent last season, McLaren hasn’t been able to compete for a podium so far. Norris acknowledged Ferrari’s speed advantage over McLaren, especially noting their performance in different sectors. Despite McLaren’s weaknesses, Norris believes they can still challenge Aston Martin and Mercedes. Both McLaren drivers found the dusty and windy conditions challenging during practice, with Piastri mentioning positive signs from the car despite the difficulties. Looking to improve, McLaren continued testing setups late into FP2, aiming to be competitive and make the right choices before the weekend’s races.
