McLaren’s Abu Dhabi pace looks better than it is

McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris insists his team’s rapid pace in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix free practice has been flattered by its rivals running in more conservative engine modes.

McLaren has a golden opportunity to seal its first constructors’ title since 1998 this weekend, leading its only remaining challenger Ferrari by 21 points.

The papaya team started on the front foot with strong pace out of the garage, with Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri locking out the top two in Friday evening’s second free practice session. Norris’ chart-topping lap time was sixth tenths quicker than both Ferraris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren’s long-run pace also looked faster than Ferrari’s, prompting Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to say the team will be “difficult to beat” and admitting the Scuderia has a lot of work ahead to catch up before qualifying.

But according to Norris Friday’s timesheets don’t reflect the real picture, with the Briton adamant other teams have not dialled up their power units as much as the Mercedes engines in the back of McLaren’s MCL38. A third-best time for Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas also puts the FP2 result in perspective.

“It was a good day,” Norris said. “The car’s been feeling good the whole day, so we continued our pace out of Qatar. And I feel strong. We think we have some things to improve on in both low and high fuel, probably more so on the high fuel.

“It certainly looks – probably – better than it is. I don’t think the others turned up their engines yet, so it might look glorious for now, but I think we’re still gonna have a tough fight tomorrow.”

Asked where McLaren can still make inroads, Norris replied: “It’s nothing huge, it’s small things. It’s trying to find the balance of going quicker but saving the tyres.

“Especially in the longer-run stuff it’s about where can you push more and where do you need to save? How can you save the tyres more with driving, with the toys, things I can change on my steering wheel and the underlying balance of the car? So just trying to find the right compromise is the main thing.”

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP Practice