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Norris: McLaren's Abu Dhabi pace looks better than it is

McLaren Lando Norris Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Ferrari Mercedes

McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris insists his team's rapid pace in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix free practice has been flattered by its rivals running in more conservative engine modes.

McLaren has a golden opportunity to seal its first constructors' title since 1998 this weekend, leading its only remaining challenger Ferrari by 21 points.

The papaya team started on the front foot with strong pace out of the garage, with Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri locking out the top two in Friday evening's second free practice session. Norris' chart-topping lap time was sixth tenths quicker than both Ferraris and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren's long-run pace also looked faster than Ferrari's, prompting Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to say the team will be "difficult to beat" and admitting the Scuderia has a lot of work ahead to catch up before qualifying.

But according to Norris Friday's timesheets don't reflect the real picture, with the Briton adamant other teams have not dialled up their power units as much as the Mercedes engines in the back of McLaren's MCL38. A third-best time for Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas also puts the FP2 result in perspective.

"It was a good day," Norris said. "The car's been feeling good the whole day, so we continued our pace out of Qatar. And I feel strong. We think we have some things to improve on in both low and high fuel, probably more so on the high fuel.

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team (Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images)

"It certainly looks – probably – better than it is. I don't think the others turned up their engines yet, so it might look glorious for now, but I think we're still gonna have a tough fight tomorrow."

Asked where McLaren can still make inroads, Norris replied: "It's nothing huge, it's small things. It's trying to find the balance of going quicker but saving the tyres.

"Especially in the longer-run stuff it's about where can you push more and where do you need to save? How can you save the tyres more with driving, with the toys, things I can change on my steering wheel and the underlying balance of the car? So just trying to find the right compromise is the main thing."

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP Practice

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

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

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Pato O'Ward, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Jackie Stewart

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari and the Tifosi tartan

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Alex Albon, Williams Racing, with girlfriend Lily Muni He

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Alex Albon, Williams Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Williams Racing, on stage in the Fanzone

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Fans in the fanzone

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, arrives in the paddock with girlfriend Alexandra Saint Mleux

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Ayumu Iwasa, RB F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Ferrari SF-24 technical detail

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Ayumu Iwasa, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, in cockpit

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Ayumu Iwasa, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Arthur Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Ayumu Iwasa, VCARB 01

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Arthur Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Jack Doohan, Alpine A524

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Ryo Hirakawa, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Rear light on the Haas VF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Ryo Hirakawa, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Sparks fly from Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Sparks fly from George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday

Formula 1

54

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Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

Lando Norris

McLaren

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