Lando Norris has said he is still going through a "learning process" with the new generation of Formula 1 cars, despite how well he's done at the start of the new regulation cycle. F1 went through a revolutionary winter break, with the entire philosophy of the cars changing from over-body downforce to that of ground-effect, thus completely changing the dynamics of a car's handling. Despite this, the formbook hasn't changed dramatically and, at McLaren, Norris has picked up where he left off against his illustrious teammate Daniel Ricciardo. McLaren have scored 59 points this season, with 48 of them coming courtesy of Norris, and the British driver has spoken about how satisfied he is with his start to the new cycle.
Norris: I'm understanding things better
"I'm very happy with how I'm doing now," he told media, including RacingNews365.com , after the Monaco Grand Prix . "I'm a little bit surprised how well I've done the last couple of weekends with how I felt (Norris struggled with tonsilitis throughout the Spanish weekend). "But I'm understanding more and more about the car, it's still a new car. It's not just for Daniel, it's not just for other people, it's the same for everyone. "There are a lot of things I've had to try and readjust to this year and I feel like I'm getting there now with that, and therefore I feel like I can unlock a bit more pace come qualifying, like yesterday and the race last weekend. "I'm just understanding things more. So it's still a learning process for me. I'm still learning a lot of things. "It's not like, because I've been with McLaren, I know everything and I know how everything works perfectly – it is quite the opposite. It's been a new car for me, new tyres, new setups, and new everything. "So, in some ways, it's still like a new, fresh start for me and the new team and I have to reassess how I drive the car in some ways, and I can't drive how I want to in many ways."
Norris: 2022 changes have suited some drivers more than others
The McLaren driver pointed out that it is evident the changes haven't suited all of the drivers quite as much as for himself, using his former teammate Carlos Sainz as an example. "Charles [Leclerc] has done much better this year, relative to Carlos," he said. "Carlos beat him last year and, this year, it just looks like Charles is in a much more comfortable position. "Same with [Sergio] Perez – he is in a much better position compared to what it was last year. So there are quite a few changes this year with the car and I think you're seeing that evidence, drivers that it is suiting more than others. "But it also takes time for everyone to understand all these things and I feel like, only now, so far into the season, or I guess six-seven races, whatever it is, that I'm finally coming to terms with understanding this."
Most read
