Summary
- Norris confirmed a power-unit issue contributed to his straight-line deficit at Sepang.
- He qualified sixth, 0.627s behind Verstappen, and gains a place through Hadjar’s penalty.
- Norris expects high tyre degradation to create opportunities through strategy and Safety Cars.
Lando Norris has revealed that a continuing power-unit issue contributed to his disappointing qualifying result at Sepang, where McLaren struggled to challenge Red Bull and Ferrari for the leading positions.
The reigning Formula 1 champion finished sixth with a 1:35.757, trailing polesitter Max Verstappen by 0.627s and beating team-mate Oscar Piastri by just 0.005s. Isack Hadjar’s five-place penalty moves Norris to fifth on the starting grid.
Speaking after qualifying in Malaysia, Norris confirmed that an ongoing power-unit problem was affecting his speed on the straights. He felt his lap deserved more, but said McLaren was still unable to extract everything it needed from the car.
“I’m just down on every single straight, so every time I get a good exit, I’m just slower at the end of the straight,” Norris said.
The concern also extends to Sunday’s race, when a lack of straight-line speed could complicate overtaking and defending positions.
Norris satisfied with his lap, but not McLaren’s pace
Norris distinguished his own performance from the limitations of the car. He was pleased with his final attempt, while acknowledging that McLaren’s difficulties throughout the weekend made a place on the third row unsurprising.
“I’m pretty satisfied with my final lap; I feel I put it all together and did a good job with what we had. However, it’s clear we are a long way off the pace. My car is struggling with speed on the straights, and we’ve lacked general pace all weekend, so starting fifth is not a surprise. We don’t expect any miracles, and it’s obvious the Red Bulls are in a class of their own here,” Norris said.
Verstappen’s pole and Hadjar’s third-fastest qualifying time underlined Red Bull’s strength. Hadjar’s penalty changes the starting order, but Norris expects McLaren to face a substantial performance challenge against the cars ahead.
Tyre degradation could create opportunities
Despite that assessment, Norris believes the demands of Sunday’s race could offer McLaren opportunities that were absent over a single qualifying lap.
He expects tyre management, pit-stop decisions and possible interruptions to influence the result, with the heat adding another challenge for the drivers.
“Tomorrow will be a very different and challenging race for everyone. The tyre degradation is higher than we’ve seen all year, which will likely force a two- or three-stop strategy. This could create opportunities with safety cars and varying strategies. It’s going to be a tough, physical race where managing the car lap after lap will be crucial. While we’re not where we want to be in terms of performance, the unpredictable nature of this race could be a good thing for us, and we’ll be ready to seize any chances that come our way,” Norris said.
His reference to two or three stops is a race-strategy expectation, with the eventual choice dependent on tyre behaviour and how the grand prix develops.
Starting fifth keeps Norris close to the leading group. His challenge will be to remain competitive through the stints while putting McLaren in a position to benefit if the race produces the openings he anticipates.
Formula 1 continues this weekend, from 2–4 October, in Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.
F1 today: FAQ
Why did F1 cars lose power before the Bahrain GP in Malaysia?
The FIA identified a combination of low engine speed, low grip, wet-weather energy management settings and Sepang’s sector configuration. It distributed a software update before the race and announced a full review with teams and power unit manufacturers.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 championship in Singapore?
No. Antonelli leads George Russell by 84 points, but even a Singapore Sprint and Grand Prix double would not secure the title. Austin on 25 October is his earliest possible opportunity, depending on his results and those of the remaining contenders.
When is the next F1 race, and is Singapore a Sprint weekend?
The next race is the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October, with track activity beginning on Friday, 9 October. It is a Sprint weekend: Sprint qualifying takes place on Friday, followed by the Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
What engine problem did Norris report at Sepang?
Norris confirmed an ongoing power-unit issue was contributing to his lack of straight-line speed. He did not identify a specific failed component in the comments verified.
