Lando Norris Faces Challenges with McLaren’s New Car at Bahrain GP

After a promising start to the season, including a pole-to-flag win in Melbourne, Lando Norris has been grappling with discomfort in McLaren‘s 2025 car. This struggle was evident during the Bahrain Grand Prix, where teammate Oscar Piastri outperformed him.

A Flawed Weekend for Norris in Bahrain

Despite expectations of a podium finish on a circuit known for easier overtaking, Norris’ weekend was marred by mistakes and penalties. He started sixth on the grid due to a difficult qualifying lap and earned a five-second penalty for misaligning with his grid box.

Despite a great start that moved him up to third, Norris found himself stranded in third place after clumsy overtake attempts on an ailing Mercedes of George Russell.

Norris’ Struggles with McLaren’s 2025 Car

Norris’ struggles stem from his unease with the substantial changes in McLaren‘s 2025 car compared to the one that won the 2024 constructors’ title. His qualifying performance was error-free but highlighted his lack of synchronicity with the Sakhir circuit.

Team boss Andrea Stella is working to make Norris more comfortable, but Norris feels there are no obvious solutions at hand. He expressed his frustration, stating, “I wish I knew the answer.

Piastri’s Impressive Form vs. Norris’ Struggles

In stark contrast, teammate Oscar Piastri has been performing exceptionally well, with a pole and win in Bahrain that brought him within three points of Norris. This crescendo form has added to Norris’ woes.

Despite the challenges, Norris remains optimistic, vowing to find a way out and get back to his best form. He acknowledged his self-criticism but also emphasized its therapeutic nature rather than a hindrance to his driving ability or self-esteem.