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Motorsport

Norris bemoans McLaren’s “shocking” long-run pace in Las Vegas

McLaren Lando Norris Mercedes Oscar Piastri The Las Vegas Grand Prix

Lando Norris described his McLaren’s long-run pace at the Las Vegas Grand Prix as “shocking” – as he reckoned he could drive a road car quicker.

The Briton ended second practice on Thursday evening just 0.011 seconds behind pacesetter Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes, but he was far from happy with how things played out.

On a day when the cold temperatures and the low-grip track surface made things tricky for everyone, he said McLaren’s position in the timesheets was flattering considering how much trouble he thought they were in with front tyre graining.

“It's just very difficult, super low grip,” he said. “I feel like I could drive a road car quicker than we drive at the minute…”

Norris said that being personally struggling to overcome issues with front graining, he was not too encouraged by the long-run potential of the McLaren on a weekend when he needs a good result to keep his slim championship hopes alive.

“I think the low-fuel stuff has been okay,” he explained. “The high-fuel, that was shocking. So, yeah, plenty of things to look into.

“This kind of combinations of things, and when we struggle with the front graining and stuff like that, I'm just not very good at it. So it's always a bit of a struggle for me.

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in the garage (Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images)

“But we’ve a good amount of time to work on it. So yeah, two halves really. Good low-fuel and difficult high-fuel.”

Team-mate Oscar Piastri felt that it was difficult to read too much into the Thursday practice times because track evolution was so rapid that it clouded the true performance of teams.

“Every lap we do, the track's getting better and better,” said the Australian. “But we knew what to expect this time, at least.

“It's been an interesting day. I think the pace seems reasonable, just a bit of tidying up. And if you don't get the lap here, then you quickly lose a lot of time with the track evolving so much.”

And while Mercedes had looked to have an edge so far, Piastri felt McLaren was not out of contention.

“Mercedes have looked very quick today,” he added. “Very, very quick. Ferrari's been pretty strong as well. But I think we're definitely in the mix.”

Photos from Las Vegas GP Practice

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing, with Elvis impersonators

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team with his girlfriend Hannah St. John

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing, arrives at the track

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor, Alpine F1, arrives at the track

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, arrives at the track

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Courtney Crone, HAAS F1 Academy Driver

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team, Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team, Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, speaks with a teammate in the garage

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes F1

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Alpine F1 A524

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, in the garage

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, in the garage

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, in the garage

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, leaves the garage

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, kicks up sparks

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

The APXGP cars on track for the F1 Movie

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Thursday

Formula 1

63

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