Lando Norris delivers 'could not prepare' McLaren admission

Lando Norris has conceded he was not prepared for finding this F1 campaign's McLaren car more tricky to deal with than the MCL38 from last season.

Having carried the British driver and the rest of the Woking team to the constructors' championship in 2024, expectations were high heading into the new year.

Whilst the papaya squad has undeniably delivered on that anticipation with the MCL39, comfortably leading the constructors' title race with Oscar Piastri and Norris both topping the drivers' standings, it has not been an easy season so far for the five-time grand prix winner.

Despite taking an early advantage over his team-mate, Norris has found the Australian to generally have the measure of him since the year-opening round in Melbourne. Piastri now leads by 16 points in the championship.

The nexus of Norris' problems has been an inability to get comfortable with his new car, something he did not envisage happening.

When asked if he foresaw the MCL39 being more difficult than it's predecessor, he explained there was no indication that would be the case.

"No, I don't think so," the 25-year-old told media including RacingNews365. "I mean, it's very hard to know.

"Of course we have the simulator and things, and there was nothing that really spoke out that much about it. So the answer is no."

'Not enough of an indication'

Norris maintained his stance the MCL39 is an enhancement on what came before, whilst detailing how difficult it is to know how a car might truly behave until it is on track.

It ultimately prevented him from being able to sufficiently prepare for the current season, now having to adjust through the stresses and strains of an already-packed F1 calendar.

"We knew it would be a step forward, we knew it would be quicker, but until you really put it on the track and you drive at different circuits… You know, it's not just that one," he said.

"There are some circuits I felt better and some circuits I’ve liked the feeling a lot. But not enough of an indication for me to kind of prepare - probably what I needed to prepare for."