Lando Norris delivered a blunt assessment of McLaren’s Azerbaijan GP prospects after finishing Thursday practice almost 1.5 seconds behind Mercedes at the Baku City Circuit.

Norris placed sixth in FP2 with a 1:44.831, leaving him 1.484s behind George Russell’s benchmark. Although the McLaren driver occupied a relatively conventional position within the leading group, the size of the deficit caused considerably greater concern.

“We’re miles off,” Norris told Ariana Bravo in an interview attended by GRANDE PRÊMIO in Baku. “We’re up there, let’s say, relatively. We’re in a position we expect to be in, but 1.5 seconds off the pace, so pretty pants.”

Asked whether McLaren could close the gap before qualifying, Norris responded with a question of his own: “Do you think we can close 1.5 seconds?”

“I hope so,” he continued. “I have no idea, so we’ll see what work we can do tonight. The car doesn’t feel that bad, so it’s just a little knife in the heart when you see how far off you are.”

Norris dismisses confidence question after difficult McLaren day

McLaren endured problems during FP1, when Norris completed only 14 laps and finished 14th, 1.594s away from Russell. The Briton said he did not have sufficient information to explain the team’s difficulties and directed technical questions towards McLaren.

“I don’t know that much about it, honestly, so it’s better to ask the team,” he said.

The situation improved in FP2, with Norris completing 22 laps and climbing to sixth. However, neither he nor Oscar Piastri appeared capable of challenging Mercedes. Piastri ended the session eighth, leaving both McLarens outside the top five.

When asked whether he at least felt confident behind the wheel around Baku, Norris made it clear that comfort mattered considerably less than performance.

“I don’t really care how confident I am in the car,” he said. “I just care about the pace, and we’re not very fast, so I don’t care. I drive whatever car I get given. I just want it to be quick.”

“It’s not very quick at the minute, but we’ll see what we can change for tomorrow,” Norris concluded.

The contradiction is what makes McLaren’s position particularly concerning. Norris did not describe an unpredictable or fundamentally undriveable car. The MCL does not feel especially bad—it is simply not producing the lap time required to fight Mercedes.

Russell led a Mercedes one-two ahead of Kimi Antonelli, while Norris also finished behind Max Verstappen and both Ferraris. The full Azerbaijan GP FP2 results are available here.

McLaren now has one final practice session to understand where the deficit originates before qualifying. FP3 begins on Friday at 09:30 UK time, with qualifying following at 13:00.

GRANDE PRÊMIO follows every session of the Azerbaijan GP LIVE and in REAL TIME.

F1 today: FAQ

Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday?

The race takes place on Saturday, September 26, because Sunday is Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day. The entire programme was moved forward, with practice on Thursday and qualifying on Friday.

What time does the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?

The Azerbaijan GP starts at 12:00 UK, 07:00 ET and 15:00 local time on Saturday. It will run for 51 laps around the 6.003km Baku City Circuit.

Can Kimi Antonelli win the 2026 F1 championship in Azerbaijan?

Yes. Antonelli arrives in Baku with an 81-point lead over George Russell, making him mathematically capable of securing the championship. To become champion, he must leave Azerbaijan at least 75 points ahead.

Where did Lando Norris finish Azerbaijan GP FP2?

Norris finished sixth with a 1:44.831, 1.484s behind George Russell’s fastest time.