P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris has opened up on the unexpected difficulties he has encountered with the McLaren MCL39 this F1 season.
Lando Norris admitted he was caught off guard by the challenges posed by this year’s McLaren F1 car compared to last season’s MCL38. The expectations were high after their successful 2024 season which led to the constructors’ championship. Despite leading the constructors’ title race with Oscar Piastri and Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings, it has been a tough season for Norris with Piastri currently ahead by 16 points. Norris has struggled to find his comfort level with the MCL39, which was unexpected for him. He mentioned that there were no indications during simulations that the new car would be more difficult to handle.
