Lando Norris called himself “clueless” after a disappointing sixth-place result for McLaren in qualifying at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Norris had been on the backfoot of his team-mate Oscar Piastri throughout practice, claiming the MCL39 “feels dreadful” after FP2.
Still, McLaren did enjoy a healthy margin over the rest of the field during practice and the majority of qualifying until Norris had a scruffy first sector on his final lap in the Q3 top-10 shootout.
So, as Piastri romped away to pole position, Norris languished just outside the top five and was incredibly downbeat post-qualifying.
But it wasn’t just the final run that Norris took issue with, as he criticised his efforts around the Bahrain International Circuit.
“I mean, it was just every lap, honestly,” he told select media, including Motorsport Week on Saturday.
“I’ve been off every lap this weekend, just not comfortable. No big complaints.
“The car’s amazing. The car’s as good as it has been the whole season, which is strong.
“I’ve been off it all weekend. Don’t know why, just clueless on track at the minute.
“So, I don’t know. I just need a big reset or something.”
Norris not making excuses for poor qualifying form
Probed further on what it is he needs to find within himself to get better results out of the MCL39, Norris was unable to nail down a definitive answer.
But with Piastri on pole, Norris knows the car isn’t the problem.
“Oscar’s doing a great job, so I can’t complain,” he said.
“I’m not going to have the excuse that I can’t drive my car.
“It’s my job to drive whatever car I’ve got, whether it’s easy or hard. And I’m not doing a good enough job, so the team are doing an amazing job.
“I’m not going to complain about the car not suiting my needs. I’m not comfortable.
“It doesn’t drive the way I like, but that’s not an excuse. The driver’s job is to drive whatever car they’re given, and I can’t drive this car quick enough.”
Explaining further, Norris added, “I just don’t know how to approach it. I can’t figure it out.
“Every time I try something, it’s good for one session, and then it’s the wrong thing for the next session, because the wind has changed,” Norris continued.
“I just can’t flow with the car, and when I can’t flow, I’m not very quick.
“I’ve just got to work on myself. I can’t follow the team, and the car is the best by a long way.
“But clearly, I’m just not clicking at the minute.”
Norris ‘couldn’t care less’ about F1 title picture
With Piastri 13 points behind Norris at the top of the Drivers’ standings, if the duo were to finish where they start on Sunday, the championship picture will swing in the Aussie’s favour.
Norris, “couldn’t care less” about that.
“I’m not concerned. I’m just concerned about me,” he said.
“Couldn’t care less [about the championship].
“Like I said, I don’t care about myself. I don’t care about what the others do.
“I’ve always known Oscar’s good, and he’s quick, and he’s doing the job I know he can achieve with the car that we’ve got.
“So, yeah, well done to him. But I’m more worried about my own performance than others.
“So, yeah, I don’t care about the rest of it.”
Still, with McLaren and Norris well aware of his issues coming into the weekend, Saturday’s qualifying result is evidence that he ought to start caring about the championship picture sooner rather than later if his problems persist.
READ MORE – Oscar Piastri takes pole position in Bahrain as Lando Norris flounders
