Lando Norris has admitted that he was far from comfortable aboard his McLaren during the first day of practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, despite the Briton topping the timesheets over team mate Oscar Piastri.
Norris built on a P8 finish in the opening FP1 session to lead the way during FP2, clocking a best time of 1m 42.260s around the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit and winding up 0.215s clear of Piastri, and a further 0.002s up on Red Bull rival Max Verstappen.
FP2: Norris tops the second practice times ahead of Piastri and Verstappen in Belgium
Asked to reflect on his first day of running when he hopped out of the car, Norris initially commented: “Good. Still tough, still close. Red Bull are very quick at the minute.
“It’s tricky… I’ve just not felt very comfortable today with the car. I hope I just wake up tomorrow and feel a bit more comfortable with it! But we’ll try and improve a few things and see again.
“I know it looked good on the timesheets, but I’ve not felt super comfortable in just going out and doing it, so hopefully I can just get in a bit more of a rhythm and feel a bit better out there.”
2024 Belgian GP FP2: Onboard with Lando Norris for the fastest lap of Friday practice at Spa
He added: “We’ve prepared well. We’ve got a good set-up on the car and it’s working, but just from my side, and just feeling like I can just go out and nail it, I’m not quite there just yet.
With some rain forecast for Saturday’s running, and Sunday looking set to be dry, Norris then pondered how that will be factored in when he goes through the Friday debrief with his engineers.
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix
“Just with downforce questions… Of course, generally for the rain you want to edge towards the higher downforce, and I think that’s maybe the direction to go in any way,” he said. “But I don’t know just yet, so I’ll sit down with my guys and we’ll talk about it.”
Piastri, aiming to build on his maiden Grand Prix win last time out in Hungary, offered a slightly more positive assessment of his comfort behind the wheel – despite a couple of wild moments during his long runs.
“A strong day, definitely,” he said. “I think FP1 we looked reasonably quick, FP2 I think we got stronger. I feel like we’re in a good place, I feel like it’s been a very smooth day.
McLaren continued where they left off in Hungary by forming a 1-2 during Friday practice at Spa
“We’ve kind of gone through everything we wanted to and learned as much as we could. I’m feeling good. The weather’s probably going to mean that’s useless tomorrow, but a really strong first day.”
Piastri also offered his thoughts on Verstappen’s impending 10-place grid penalty for an engine change, and how much that will help McLaren as the weekend develops.
READ MORE: Verstappen and Tsunoda hit with grid penalties at Belgian GP after engine changes
“Definitely,” he smiled. “I mean, it’s better than if he was starting at the front! I don’t think you can count him out, it’s a track they’ve been very quick at the last couple of years, and they look quick this weekend again.
“You know, I’m expecting him to make progress through the field, but having a little bit of a head start, hopefully, will definitely help a bit.”
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