Norris explains McLaren suffering: 'I could not feel more opposite'

Lando Norris has delivered a frank assessment as to why he feels he is falling far short of what he knows he is capable of.

Norris endured a difficult Bahrain Grand Prix weekend that was riddled with mistakes, compounded by his failings in qualifying that saw him line up a distant sixth on the grid compared to pole-sitting team-mate Oscar Piastri.

The British driver at least recovered in the race to finish third behind Piastri and Mercedes' George Russell, despite incurring an early five-second penalty for being out of position in his grid box at the start.

It ensured Norris' demeanour was improved in stark contrast to the abject figure he cut after qualifying when he claimed he needed a reset.

Asked post-race whether that comment was aired in the heat of the moment or whether he genuinely felt he needed to go back to the drawing board, his response was delivered with typically unabashed honesty.

"I think when you’re an athlete, when you’re a driver, whatever it is, you just know when things click, when you feel confident, when you feel comfortable," said Norris.

"I’m confident that I have everything I need and I’ve got what it takes. I have no doubt about that, that I’m good enough, and all of those things. But something’s just not clicking with me and the car. I’m not able to do any of the laps like I was doing last season.

"Then, I knew every single corner, everything that was going to happen with the car, how it was going to happen. I felt on top of the car. This year, I could not have felt more opposite so far."

Norris - Is it me? Is it the car?

Referencing his victory from pole position in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Norris added: "Even in Australia, whether or not I won the race, I never felt comfortable, never felt confident.

"The car was just mega and that’s helping me get out of a lot of problems at the minute. But I’m just nowhere near the capability that I have, which hurts, [it] hurts to say.

"I left late [on Saturday night] to look into everything and understand what I’m struggling with, what’s not clicking, trying to figure out what’s changed from last year to this year. Is it me? Is it some of the car? It’s complicated."

Norris is adamant he is not doubting himself, despite the fact his comments indicate as such, but he maintains there is a lack of comfort and confidence with the car he does not have an answer for.

"When you’re not confident in the car, to know what the limit is, what to do in the slow speed, high speed, any corner, I’m never going to be as quick as I need to be, especially when you’re fighting the best in the world," said Norris.

"As soon as you’re not settled, then it’s going to be an issue, and that’s what happening now."