Having been within the combine in qualifying within the chasing pack behind the dominant Pink Bull of Max Verstappen, Norris completed sixth and team-mate Oscar Piastri eighth following a race-long struggle with Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
It was a largely anticipated consequence for the Woking squad, which is miles forward of the place it was on the identical venue 12 months in the past, however is not but within the place to scale the heights of its spectacular second half of 2023 both.
Bahrain additional confirmed that the low-speed weak point carried over on its latest automobiles nonetheless hasn’t totally been addressed within the MCL38, which continues making Sakhir a tricky circuit for Norris and Piastri to tame.
“It is no completely different to final 12 months,” Norris mentioned. “These issues we have not been in a position to deal with, different issues which make us so up and down each weekend.
“It is one thing I believe that made us wrestle a lot in the present day and the wind modified. Some corners simply felt shockingly dangerous in comparison with yesterday.
“I believe it is clear there are nonetheless quite a lot of areas we have to concentrate on if we need to be extra constant and problem.
“However contemplating it is a observe we wrestle with nonetheless, the very fact we’re so near Mercedes continues to be an excellent signal for us that at some tracks we’ll be capable of be forward. I am assured, the workforce is doing an excellent job and it is a good beginning place.”
Lando Norris, McLaren
Picture by: Erik Junius
Norris completed beneath two seconds behind Russell, whose race tempo was compromised by engine overheating points, however struggled to problem the Mercedes in its turbulent wake.
“We had been near Mercedes, I do not assume we had any benefit over them,” he added. “The tempo was so comparable that, as quickly as I acquired into the soiled air, I did not have sufficient of a bonus to have an opportunity to overhaul and even get inside DRS.
“Perhaps I might have been forward of George, however that is about it. I believe we’re the place we count on it to be and that is only a good begin to the season, so I am proud of that.”
Requested if Saudi Arabia’s quick and flowing Jeddah Corniche circuit might be extra to the MCL38’s liking, Norris replied: “Truthfully, I do not know. It is a bit extra excessive pace, a bit extra medium pace, which usually fits us.
“However it’s additionally a observe the place you need to have an excellent entrance at apex and that is one thing we do not have in any respect, so there are nonetheless going to be issues we will wrestle with rather a lot.
“On common, the observe pace is greater, which perhaps ought to go well with us a bit extra, so I am excited for it.”
