Norris Identifies 'Good Thing' About Bahrain Grand Prix After P6 Finish

Monday, 04 March 2024 at 00:00

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Lando Norris identified the positive side of the underwhelming result for McLaren during the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix.

After a disappointing qualifying result, the 24-year-old driver started the race around the Bahrain International Circuit from P7.

Norris said his car was easily good enough for a row start after the qualification and wanted to make up for his mistakes on Sunday. However, the Papaya driver moved up only one position in the end, as he finished the race in P6. He told the media afterward:

"For our pace to still be very similar to Mercedes is a good thing. At times we thought we could challenge Ferrari, but Carlos [Sainz] showed what Ferrari's potential was."

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Norris caught up with Mercedes of George Russell towards the end of the race but couldn't overtake the fellow Briton no matter how he pushed his car.

"We were close to Mercedes, I don't think we had any advantage over them. The pace was so similar that as soon as I got into the dirty air, I just didn't have enough of an advantage to get a chance to overtake, even with DRS."

The 24-year-old admitted he thought a better result was possible when he knew his car was easily fast enough for the front row in the qualifyings.

"Maybe after yesterday, I expected a little bit more. But when I say a bit more, there's a big position change, but not a big lap time change."

Even considering his qualifying result was better and he started from the front row, Norris suggested it might have been only good enough for P5.

"One and a half tenths yesterday was four positions. Honestly, I didn't think it would change too much. Maybe I could have been ahead of George, but that's about it."

The positive thing that the McLaren driver might take with him into the race next week's race in Saudi Arabia is that Bahrain isn't a track that suits the characteristics of his car the best.,

If McLaren could match Mercedes in Bahrain, they could have an edge over the Silver Arrows during race number 2. He added:

"So I think where we expect it to be. That's a good start to the season. I’m confident, the team is doing a good job and that's a good starting position."