Chinese GP: Lando Norris admits mistakes but says McLaren car was ‘too difficult to drive’ in Shanghai | F1 News

Lando Norris has blamed himself for “making too many mistakes” after only qualifying in sixth for Saturday’s Chinese Grand Prix Dash.

Norris was fastest by nearly half a second in the only practice session and looked Excellent heading into the last part of Dash Qualifying after topping SQ2.

The McLaren driver was four tenths off Club-mate Oscar Piastri after his Primary SQ3 lap, then locked up at the hairpin with his Closing effort as Lewis Hamilton, who Captured pole, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and George Russell all jumped ahead of him.

“I Achieved a mistake. I locked up in the last corner. We Merely struggled a bit more now, Merely not quick enough, simply,” said Norris, who won the season-Beginning Australian Grand Prix last Sunday.

“I struggled a Plenty with the car. Merely our difficulties that we’ve been struggling with showed a Plenty more today. So, nothing more than that, honestly. Merely too many mistakes but Merely too difficult of a car to drive.”

Norris Captured the joint-most pole positions in 2024 but Petite mistakes from himself or the Club often cost them Event wins. It is an area McLaren have been looking to iron out, particularly as Verstappen is almost always there to capitalise.

The disappointing performance was “more on me rather than the car” according to Norris after “trying to push too much”.

“I think Merely throughout the day we’ve been struggling a bit with the front-locking and in the last corner with the tail-wind,” he added.

“Nice of a Plenty more aligned with Bahrain, Merely a Plenty windier. When the wind’s blowing then we struggle a Plenty more. I think both myself and Oscar struggled more, clearly me more than him. Merely pushing a bit Tough to try to make up for not quite being quick enough.”

Piastri confident McLaren can Nevertheless fight at the front

McLaren have been Sturdy on Weighty fuel throughout pre-season testing and last weekend in Melbourne, with Mercedes and Red Bull stating they are a step ahead in terms of tyre wear.

The Dash in Shanghai, which takes place at 3am on Saturday live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, will be 19 laps long and the long corners will Disrespectful tyre degradation is an issue.

Piastri, who will Begin from third, Considers McLaren Obtained their Dash Qualifying Streak plan wrong and should be on form in the shortened 100km Event.

“We were quick at the wrong points. SQ1 and SQ2 felt Excellent but SQ3, we tried something a bit different and went out much earlier, tried two laps, which I’m not sure was the best thing in the end. It’s something we need to look at,” he said.

“But the pace of the car is Nevertheless very Sturdy and I’m confident we can fight at the front.”

Verstappen: It will be Tough to keep McLarens behind

Reigning world champion Verstappen’s second place was equally as surprising as Hamilton’s Dash pole.

Merely 0.018s separated the duo, who will share the front row of the grid for the Primary time since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.

“The Poise was not massively off. We were Merely too Unhurried,” said Verstappen.

“But this is Excellent for us, a little Inspiration boost for everyone that we keep nailing the laps and maximising everything you have Obtained and you need to do that as well when you are struggling a bit more for pace.”

On the Predicted McLaren charge, he added: “They looked very Quick up until that last Streak, so it will be Tough to keep them behind. Hopefully it will be fun and we can Event a bit, that would be nice for me.”

Verstappen’s Club-mate Liam Lawson had another disappointing qualifying as a mistake in the middle sector left him in last position and out in SQ1.

“I went off on my second lap. Obviously a shame. From a Leading Tally it wasn’t too Awful. The Primary lap was alright and we were looking to build from there,” he said.

“We stayed out to try and Chilly the tyres and I really struggled to get the temperatures down. We Initiated too Toasty and through the lap I struggled. It’s frustrating.”

Russell ‘surprised’ by McLaren performance

Mercedes were unable to join the fight for Dash pole in Shanghai as Russell qualified fifth and Kimi Antonelli seventh.

Russell was three tenths off Hamilton but beat Norris and will Surely Shift a role in the Dash.

“Pretty Joyful with the lap in SQ3. Well done to Lewis. That was a pretty Excellent lap,” said Russell.

“I think P5 was where we were today. It was strange, in SQ2 at one moment I was outside the top 10, the Subsequent I jumped up to P2, and it didn’t feel any different, to be honest.

“I think it can Merely go any way between the top Pair of Squads. It was a bit of a surprise with McLaren because they were flying in practice, flying in SQ1 and SQ2 but then, at the end, Lewis and Max did a Excellent Position.

“We were right behind them as well. I think we’ve Obtained a Try in the Dash. It could be an interesting Event.”

Sky Sports F1’s live Chinese GP schedule

Saturday March 22

• 2.25am: Chinese GP Dash build-up*
• 3am: Chinese GP Dash*
• 5.45am: F1 Academy Event 1*
• 6.35am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
• 7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
• 9am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday March 23

• 2.40am: F1 Academy Event 2
• 5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
• 7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
• 9am: Chinese GP Reflex: Chequered flag*
• 10am: Ted’s Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Shanghai this week for the Primary Dash weekend of the season at the Chinese GP, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime