Norris pleased with ‘normal’ start to test after ‘issues in last years’ · RaceFans

Lando Norris was more pleased with his trouble-free start to testing yesterday than the fact he set the fastest time.

The McLaren driver set a best lap of 1’30.430 at the Bahrain International Circuit yesterday. But after a less-than-smooth start to recent seasons, Norris was relieved the team avoided any significant problems.

“The car was feeling like last year, which is a good start,” he told the official F1 channel. “It’s a good thing.

“We’ve had our fair share of issues over the last few years coming to Bahrain and not starting off on the right foot, but things just feel normal, which is a good start.”

McLaren were compromised by braking problems on their car at the beginning of 2022, and began the following season well off the pace. They were more competitive at the start of last year, but were not in contention for victories until they introduced their first significant upgrade at the sixth round.

Despite ending last season in strong shape and winning the constructors’ championship, McLaren have been ambitious with the changes to their car for this year. Norris is encouraged by the early signs from it.

“A lot of stuff has changed on the car, so for us just to go out and check everything, make sure things aren’t falling off and things are working as they’re meant to, is is a good start to the test,” he said.

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“It really doesn’t matter if we’re first or last on day one. That only matters in Australia, but for now, it is just a nice start to the test.”

Norris sat out almost two hours of yesterday’s test after the midday break, before it was interrupted by a power cut. He was able to reclaim some of his lost running after the session was extended by an hour.

He was unconcerned by the lost running earlier in the test. “It’s just that it takes about 20 minutes or something for a rear wing change and sometimes it’s ‘floor off’ and ‘floor on’,” he explained. “You’re just double-checking everything.

“So it’s normal stuff, it’s just checking things. Sometimes that takes a bit more time in the garage to do, but all good so far.”