Lando Norris says McLaren's 2022-spec car, as sampled in the team's simulator, feels quite "different" and "not as nice" to drive as this year's contender.
F1 teams are deep in the development process of their all-new 2022 machines that have been designed around the sport's revamped technical regulations.
The new cars' aerodynamic specifications, based on ground-effects and a reduction of the downforce generated by the front and rear wings, should theoretically allow drivers to run closer together which in turn is expected to boost overtaking opportunities.
But Norris' first impression derived from his early simulator work at Woking tells him that next year's contender will be a very different beast to master.
"It's a very different car to drive. In a way not as nice as this season," Norris told Motorsport.com last week during the launch of his LN Racing Kart at Adria.
"But I think hopefully that's the same case with every other team as well. And we'll see, there's no point trying to think it's amazing or terrible.
"You just have to do the best job you can and hopefully, next season, we go to the pre-season test with a good car."
At Silverstone last July, F1 unveiled a prototype 2022 car that was a significant departure from this year's machines. But Norris said the design of McLaren's MCL36 is still a work in progress and evolving.
"The only car we've seen is the one at Silverstone," said Norris. "The car we have in the factory, it's not even a car. It's a drawing and some paper.
"I don't think we will see it for many more months, maybe not until next year in a way. We've seen some of the drawings and the designs for next season, but every week, it's something new and something different, because there's so many different things with the car.
"But every week it's very easy to make changes and make it quicker and quicker."
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