Norris Second at Spa but Faces Grid Penalty and McLaren Deployment Struggles

Lando Norris ended Friday practice second to benchmark-setter Kimi Antonelli at Spa-Francorchamps, yet McLaren was cautious about reading too much into the result. Despite finding 1.8 seconds between FP1 and FP2, Norris described the car as "very, very difficult to drive" and admitted the team is struggling to balance electrical deployment across the lap.

Why it matters:

Under the 2026 regulations, Spa offers minimal chances to recharge batteries, making deployment strategy critical. McLaren runs Mercedes power units but trails the works team in maximizing the electrical "budget," a deficit that could cost Norris dearly as he already faces a grid penalty for new components this weekend.

The details:

• Brutal clipping: Norris reported running out of deployment through Blanchimont, tumbling from 320 km/h down to 270 km/h. "Every single straight, we're clipping," he said.
• Strategic split: Telemetry reveals contrasting approaches. Norris deployed harder on the Kemmel Straight and reached a higher peak speed, while Antonelli saved energy with earlier "super clipping" at Les Combes. The Mercedes then gained roughly 15 km/h through Pouhon and pulled further ahead toward Blanchimont, opening a gap near three tenths.
• Missing the sweet spot: Spa's need for low drag in sectors one and three versus downforce in sector two is complicated by 2026 recovery limits. McLaren brought a new low-drag rear wing, but technical director Neil Houldey said the team tested numerous configurations without finding the optimal answer.

What's next:

McLaren faces an overnight simulation push to unlock better deployment maps ahead of Saturday running. Houldey noted that while Norris got the maximum from the car in FP2, rivals may find more pace as they refine their own strategies. With a grid drop already looming, solving the energy puzzle quickly is vital if Norris is to recover through the field on Sunday.