Lando Norris admitted on Thursday that McLaren’s speed during the practice sessions for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was “pretty pants,” and he does not expect the team to be in the fight for pole position.
The Grand Prix will be held on the Baku City Circuit, a street track in Azerbaijan known for its long straight and tight corners. Thursday’s practice sessions gave teams their first on‑track data ahead of the weekend’s qualifying and race.
“The pace was pretty pants,” Norris said after the final practice run, adding that McLaren is unlikely to challenge for the top qualifying spot.
Despite the underwhelming practice times, the British driver indicated the team will concentrate on improving its overall performance for the race, focusing on race‑day strategy rather than qualifying speed.
Qualifying is set for Saturday, and McLaren will continue to develop its car throughout the remaining sessions in hopes of securing a solid result in Baku.
<small>Source: Sky Sports — read the original story there.</small>
