Lando Norris has revealed that the McLaren car is requiring him to drive in a `different way` starting from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Despite leading the Drivers` Championship, Norris expressed that he is not completely satisfied with the car`s performance.
After finishing third in Bahrain, Norris mentioned that he felt `nowhere near` his best compared to the previous year.
“I am trying different approaches to improve my performance,” Norris stated in Jeddah.
“I`m being made to drive in a manner that is unfamiliar and unusual for me. There are no guarantees of immediate improvement.”
“It`s not as simple as things suddenly clicking into place and feeling perfect.”
“However, I believe I have a better grasp of the situation, which hopefully boosts my confidence. I trust our team to maximize the car`s potential.”
Norris had a significant lead over Piastri after the first race, but Piastri has reduced this gap with wins in subsequent races.
Norris took a break after Bahrain to clear his mind from F1 but inevitably contemplated the `difficulties` he was facing.
The 24-year-old didn`t specify the areas needing improvement but feels he isn`t getting the most out of the car.
“I can`t drive like I did last year, which is strange to admit in my seventh F1 season,” he said.
“I`m still learning. The car is noticeably different, forcing me to adapt in uncomfortable ways. However, I feel less pressure now because I better understand the reasons behind these challenges.”
“I am more accepting of the current struggles and challenges.”
Norris: Current Driving Style Doesn`t Suit Car
Last year, Norris achieved the most pole positions, but in 2025, he has only secured one pole position in Australia.
The McLaren driver highlighted qualifying as an area of weakness after four races.
“My confidence was very high at the end of last season because I understood the car and how to drive it effectively,” he explained.
“Now, I lack that confidence because my feel for the car isn`t there, and my driving style isn`t well-suited. I dislike the uncertainty of my qualifying performance.”
“Last year, I was much more confident going into qualifying. Now, my confidence is lower due to how I feel in the car.”
Jeddah`s qualifying is known for its high speeds and risk due to the proximity of walls.
Piastri, coming off a win in Bahrain, believes Verstappen could be a stronger competitor this weekend.
“China, like Jeddah, favored front-limited cars, and we were still quick. So, I`m not too worried,” Piastri said.
“With high grip levels, which helped us in recent years, it might benefit others this year.”
“I expect close competition. The track layout is similar to Suzuka in cornering speeds, so we`ll see if Red Bull is back in contention. I anticipate us being fast but facing opposition.”
