Lando Norris Expresses 'Limit' Concern Amidst McLaren's Mexico City GP Struggles

Lando Norris believes McLaren is "struggling at the minute" as they head into qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix, with the British driver citing a 'limit' holding the team back.

Why it matters:

McLaren's recent resurgence has placed them firmly in the fight for third in the Constructors' Championship. Any significant performance dip, especially in a crucial qualifying session, could jeopardize their momentum and their battle against rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes, ultimately impacting their championship aspirations.

The Details:

• Limited Practice Time: Due to local hero Pato O'Ward participating in FP1, Norris had only one hour to adapt his MCL39 to the challenging, high-altitude conditions of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
• Initial Performance: Norris finished FP2 in fourth place, a quarter of a second behind Max Verstappen, with Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli ahead of him. Despite this, he felt he found the car's limit quickly.
• Balance Issues: Norris described the car's balance as "a bit all over the place," a recurring issue in recent weeks for single-lap performance. This instability is hindering their ability to extract maximum pace.
• Friday Form: Traditionally strong on Fridays, Norris noted that McLaren was "already a little bit behind" compared to their usual benchmark, suggesting others might have already caught up. He emphasized that the team has "definitely some work to do."
• FP1 Complications: The first practice session, which Norris missed, was compromised by technical issues, including a lack of GPS data and onboard footage, limiting the information McLaren could gather for car setup.

Between the Lines:

Norris's comments, particularly about finding a 'limit' that is holding them back, suggest a fundamental characteristic of the car or its setup that is proving difficult to overcome in the unique Mexico City environment. While the high altitude affects all teams, McLaren's struggle with car balance on a single lap indicates a deeper issue beyond typical adaptation, potentially linked to downforce levels or power unit performance at such heights.

What's next:

McLaren's engineering team will be working intensively overnight to address the balance issues and find more pace for qualifying. Resolving these 'struggles' will be critical for Norris and Oscar Piastri to secure strong grid positions, which are vital for a successful race at a circuit where overtaking can be challenging. Their ability to adapt quickly will dictate their performance in the rest of the weekend and their championship standing.