Norris: Adapting driving style to MCL36 'at the back of my head'

Lando Norris says he's been exploring different driving styles in McLaren's simulator, in case he needs to adapt in the real world to his team's new-spec MCL36.

Wholesale changes to Formula 1's technical regulations and the reliance on a different aero concept to generate downforce has produced a big reset for all the sport's teams.

But the overhaul could also impact each driver's approach to driving an F1 car.

Norris took part in McLaren's filming day with its new car at Barcelona on Monday. But control tyres and limited mileage obviously restricted Norris' performance.

However, the Briton has put hundreds of miles under his belt at the wheel of McLaren's new charger in the virtual world, and during those sessions he experimented with different driving styles as he kept at the back of his mind the possibility that he would need to adapt to his team's 2022-spec machine.

"On the simulator I've been spending a lot of time not just driving the car but being prepared to drive it in different ways and being ready to drive in different driving styles because of this," Norris explained at McLaren's launch last week.

"I would say our car has been quite specific in the last few years in how to drive it and how to get performance out of it. That showed through Daniel [Ricciardo] coming to drive the car.

"I think it is the case that some cars are easier to adapt to than others."

• Read also: Norris uncertain about impact of new 2022 technical rules

Ricciardo's on-track struggles with McLaren in the first half of last season were a predicament that can hit any driver confronted with an equipment change.

Norris doesn't consider himself immune to such a plight, but the 22-year-old says that if it happens, he'll deal with the issue.

"I think there's that for everyone: that they might suit people's driving styles more than others, and it could potentially be a hard one for me," he said.

"But that is life, right? You have to deal with it.

"Before F1 I had to deal with it in every category I did, and I spent one year in every season and each year I had to adapt to something new and try to make the most of that.

"It has been proven by champions and race winners that an F1 car is not an easy thing to get your head around and get in the zone, which I felt I did more last year and that is what Daniel struggled with."

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