Norris frustrated by 'bad day' as McLaren shows pace in Suzuka

Lando Norris described his Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix as a "pretty bad day" despite McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri topping the timesheets in FP2. Norris's running was severely limited by a hydraulics issue, leaving him playing catch-up on a day the team's car showed clear podium-contending pace.

Why it matters:

McLaren arrives in Suzuka as a genuine threat to Red Bull, making every practice session crucial for fine-tuning a potentially race-winning package. Norris, a key contender in the Drivers' Championship, losing valuable track time puts him at an immediate disadvantage for qualifying and the race, potentially hindering both his and the team's points haul in a tight battle with Ferrari.

The details:

• Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in the second practice session, confirming the MCL38's strong performance on a high-speed, flowing circuit that suits its characteristics.
• Lando Norris's day was compromised by a hydraulics problem during FP2, restricting his track time and leaving him fourth on the timesheets.
• Norris admitted the lack of laps was a significant setback, stating he was "on the back foot" and lacking the data needed to optimize his setup.
• The contrast between the two drivers' Fridays highlights how reliability and clean sessions are as critical as raw car performance in a tightly packed field.

What's next:

All eyes will be on whether Norris can recover the lost ground in Saturday's final practice and qualifying.

• The Briton has a night to review the limited data from his car and Piastri's runs to dial in his setup for qualifying.
• A strong qualifying performance is paramount at Suzuka, where overtaking is difficult, making grid position critical for the race.
• If the car's pace is as genuine as Piastri's time suggests, McLaren should be fighting for a front-row start, but Norris must first overcome his Friday deficit.