McLaren's Norris: FIA Rear Wing Clampdown Won't Affect Team Performance
The FIA's recent clampdown on rear wing flexibility at the Chinese Grand Prix won't affect McLaren's performance, according to Lando Norris, who suggests the team could have been more aggressive in this area.
The new regulations reduce the allowable gap between rear wing elements from 2.0mm to 0.5mm under a 75kg load, targeting teams using flexible elements that create a "mini-DRS" effect at high speeds to reduce drag.
McLaren F1 car racing on track
"No, we don't have to change anything," Norris confirmed. "Ours is fine. In fact, ours was probably too good. We're probably not pushing the limits enough, honestly."
Looking ahead, Norris expects Ferrari to pose a stronger challenge than they did in Australia, where McLaren held a significant 15-second advantage mid-race before safety cars closed the gap. He expressed surprise at Ferrari's qualifying performance, where they were seven to eight tenths behind, noting this gap doesn't reflect their true potential.
"Their race pace on Friday was even better than ours almost," Norris revealed. "I'm sure they seemed a bit shocked as well as to why they were so far off. It just shows how difficult it is. It's so easy for it to be going well and so easy for it to just kind of turn upside down."
Norris also acknowledged Red Bull's continued strength, emphasizing that while McLaren may have an advantage when conditions are perfect, their competitors remain close behind.