Unhappy Norris battles balance woes as Piastri shines on home turf

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McLaren's Lando Norris found himself grappling with balance issues on the opening day of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, despite topping FP1 and clocking the third-fastest time in FP2.

While enjoying a solid entry into the weekend, Norris admitted that balance gremlins embedded in his MCL39 had turned his low-fuel qualifying simulation into a white-knuckle ride.

The Briton appeared satisfied with his car’s baseline but unhappy overall with its specific behavior that left him 0.020 seconds off teammate Oscar Piastri in FP2 and 0.141 seconds shy of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the session’s pacesetter.

“I think it’s been a good start to the weekend, we’ve got a good baseline, but [I’m] certainly not happy,” he said.

“[I’m] not confident with the car in terms of finding the best balance and being consistent enough, especially on low fuel.”

A Familiar Issue on Low-Fuel Runs

The Briton pointed out that the balance problems aren’t new, having already surfaced during pre-season testing in Bahrain. High-fuel runs felt more predictable, but low-fuel laps remained tricky to manage.

“I feel like high fuel I felt good, just low fuel, yeah, still similar to Bahrain, too many inconsistencies, too many problems, so it was a bit of a struggle,” he added.

Meanwhile, across the McLaren garage, local hero Oscar Piastri radiated a sunnier vibe. The Melbourne native snagged second in FP2, a mere 0.124s behind Leclerc, and his optimism was palpable as he soaked in the home-crowd buzz.

“I would say [today was] pretty encouraging,” commented the 23-year-old. “The pace was pretty solid.

“There are still a few things to try and iron out and make the car feel a bit nicer, but I think the underlying pace seems strong. So I’m pretty happy with the day’s work.”

Piastri wasn’t blind to the car’s quirks, but where Norris sees struggle, he saw potential – a glass-half-full take that’s got Aussie fans dreaming big.

“So I’m pretty happy with the day’s work,” he added. “I think it’s going to be pretty different for the next two days, so how much today means we don’t know, but it feels pretty good.”

Chasing the Top Step Amid Weather Wildcards

Piastri’s positivity didn’t stop at Friday’s timesheets. With rain looming on Sunday’s forecast, he knows the weekend could turn into a slippery chess match, yet he’s unfazed.

“The weather is gonna be pretty different on Sunday and it’s gonna throw some spanners in the works, but I think the underlying pace of the car seems strong,” he said.

“Ferrari looked pretty quick today and Mercedes at other points as well. I think things are looking good, but we don’t want to just try and aim for the podium, we want to aim for the top step.”

Norris might not share that confidence yet—but with McLaren’s raw speed shining through, the team’s got plenty to ponder overnight.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.