Lando Norris shocked after comparison to F1 rivals: 'It baffles me'

Lando Norris has stated he is "baffled" that McLaren can produce strong lap times on occasion after comparing his car to others on the F1 grid.

Norris ended qualifying in Mexico City in sixth place, three-tenths of a second down on pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.

However, team-mate Oscar Piastri endured a more challenging time behind the wheel and suffered a shock early exit in Q2.

Having enjoyed a strong surge in form around the summer break period, McLaren has since slipped back in the order and is without a podium in the last four grands prix.

Norris has stated for some time that his McLaren car is too unpredictable when it comes to single-lap performance, a trait that was evident once again this weekend.

"We're just not quick enough, the car's too difficult to drive," Norris told media including RacingNews365.

"Maybe one in 50 I can put together, and everyone says, 'Oh, you've got a good car.'

"But it's not true. My Q2 lap, I just had an amazing headwind in Turn 12, gained one and a half tenths, just because the car brakes.

"The next half, I try and go the same speed in, I lose the rear, I lose a tenth, so I got a two and a half tenths delta to my previous.

"It's just too difficult, especially when it's like the onboards from others. It baffles me how we can be quick sometimes."

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Norris knew he was 'screwed' in Q3

Norris pointed to the struggles endured by Piastri in qualifying as an indicator of how difficult it is to put a lap together.

"I don't think anything slipped away, just the lap I did was pretty phenomenal in the car that we have," he said.

"It shows where Oscar is and the struggles we've been having, how difficult it is to put a lap together in this car."

While sixth on the grid marks one of Norris' lowest starting positions of the season, the reigning champion voiced satisfaction with the effort, as he pre-empted that he would be “skrewed” in Q3.

"So I'm pretty happy with a P6, honestly. You never really know what you're going to get.

"After I did a good lap in Q2, I knew I was screwed for Q3 because the chance of me repeating that lap was impossible.

"It's just that we're too slow. Every now and then, I can put a magical lap together, and everyone has a bit of hope, which is not a good thing because then we see the reality in Q3."