7 March 2026Racingnews365Race reportDriver Ratings
Lando Norris highlights critical practice deficit under new F1 rules
McLaren's Lando Norris reveals that the new-generation F1 cars have made practice sessions more critical than ever, with even a five-lap deficit causing major setup and rhythm issues that are hard to overcome during a race weekend.
Lando Norris has pinpointed a significant challenge with Formula 1's latest technical era, stating that missing even a handful of practice laps now puts a driver at a severe competitive disadvantage. The McLaren driver, who qualified sixth for the Australian Grand Prix after a disrupted Friday, explained that the new cars require a fundamentally different driving and energy management approach, making every lap of setup and learning invaluable.