Lando Norris credits 'regime' change for McLaren recovery

Lando Norris has highlighted the "very different regime" of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as key to his strong showing in FP2 in Spain.

The McLaren driver topped the second hour of free practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya after handing his MCL40 to Leonardo Fornaroli for the first session of the weekend.

His return to the top of the timing boards came after a difficult period for the British driver, who retired from both the Canadian and Monaco Grands Prix.

Norris' F1 drivers' championship defence has faltered straight out of the gate, and he sits sixth in the standings, 98 points adrift of leader Kimi Antonelli, a disappointment he admits "hurts" just six rounds into the season.

But with the paddock returning to a faster, more representative venue after two rounds at slow-speed circuits, the 11-time grand prix winner was pleased to see his McLaren performing better.

"From a point of just trying to get comfortable, it's not an easy track, even though it's probably the track I know more than anywhere else," Norris said after FP2.

"It's quick, obviously very different to the last few tracks we've been to in Monaco and Montreal, so obviously a lot quicker, you're playing with the car in a very different regime to where we have been the last few weeks, and it seems to be also just working in a better place than the last few weeks.

"So I think a reasonable Friday, still a good amount of things to improve, it wasn't like it felt amazing and not all happy, but it's hot, and I don't think anyone's going to be that happy out there.

"It's difficult with the wind and the conditions, so yeah, it just seems to be working better than the last few weeks, which is a good sign."

However, the 26-year-old is not completely satisfied with the situation, but acknowledged he "can't complain too much" after setting the quickest lap time of the weekend so far.

"We're up there with the people we want to be with," Norris added. "It's hard to know what fuel loads and stuff, power modes other people are on, but we're just happy that we're heading in the right direction from the last couple of weeks.

"It's clear the car's working better. It's probably not working as good as we want still, and there are still things I'm not happy with, and we need to improve, and I want to improve, but I think we can't complain too much, considering how the last month has been.

"We'll just work hard tonight and see what we can maximise for tomorrow."