Lando Norris reflected on Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles with McLaren, claiming he understands part of them, but would rather focus on his own races.
Ricciardo’s form at McLaren has been baffling, as he struggled to get on top of the handling of his Papaya machinery even after his second season with the team, which triggered rumors that he may leave the Woking squad even before his contract expires at the end of next season, something the Honey Badger denied recently.
Lando Norris weighed in on his teammates difficulties speaking to Formula 1’s official website, and said: “I understand certain parts of it; the rest of it’s at the same time, I just focus on myself and that’s all, you know.
“As much as I’m willing to help and offer advice and answer questions, it’s not like I go out there only to try and do that. I still have to focus on my own race and try and finish sixth and get the good points like that.
“It’s a balance; certain things I do understand – other bits not so much,” he added. “Because, I do feel like it’s a difficult car to drive, our car.
Norris admitted that McLaren’s single seaters that may make them tough to drive, something the team’s former driver Carlos Sainz – now at Ferrari – also experienced.
“You know, I think our characteristics which he’s also had over the past few years, even Carlos [Sainz, ex-team mate] said it, they’re quite specific and unique so some of the driving styles you need are like not ones you kind of grow up learning, and therefore you have to adapt quite a bit,” he explained.
Norris also had issues with McLaren’s 2022 car
The Briton revealed that at the start of the season, he struggled to get to grips with the brand new MCL36, the McLaren’s response to the 2022 F1 regulations.
He pointed out: “Especially this year, the car’s very different, and some of the characteristics of last year are gone and we’ve introduced some other characteristics, so I’ve had to change my driving style.
“At the same time, I’ve also had to adapt to it. It’s not just because I’ve been with McLaren for four years that I know this car inside-out.
“I struggled at the beginning of the season probably with my driving style a bit more than what Daniel struggled with initially in the first few tests, and I feel like I had to adapt quite a bit.”
“Some of my feelings are not translated to his feelings,” he went on. “And how we drive the cars is slightly different as well; I prefer a car with – I don’t mind as much instability from the car and kind of can push on the fronts more.
“He prefers a car that is a bit more stable and made with a little more understeer,” Norris clarified.
With half of the 2022 season already Norris has already scored over three times the points haul of Ricciardo, with 64 points putting him seventh in the Drivers’ Standings, the Australian down in 12th with 17 points only.