Lando Norris concern at Ferrari "small step" that has "tipped balance" away from McLaren

Norris and Sainz at the USGP — Photo: © LAT Images

McLaren - Ferrari

Norris concern at Ferrari "small step" that has "tipped balance" away from McLaren

Recent engine upgrade has proven key for Ferrari

Ian Parkes

Friday 29 October 2021 10:37

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McLaren driver Lando Norris feels Ferrari's recent power unit upgrade has tipped the balance towards the Scuderia in F1's 'fight for third' this season.

After Charles Leclerc tried the new-spec PU in Russia that was then handed to team-mate Carlos Sainz for the following race in Turkey, the weekend's event in the United States was the first time both drivers ran the system together.

It proved crucial at the Circuit of the Americas as Ferrari had the edge in qualifying and the race, notably with Leclerc, while Sainz was involved in a battle with Daniel Ricciardo that culminated in a minor incident and the Australian claiming fifth.

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Norris, who finished eighth behind seventh-placed Sainz, was in doubt that McLaren "lacked pace all weekend compared to the Ferraris who were quicker [in qualifying and the race]".

With Ferrari now just 3.5 points behind McLaren in the constructors' championship, Norris said: "With their upgrades on the engine, that has definitely helped them make that little step to be ahead of us.

"A tough one because it is not what we want so late in the season but we have got to try and do something more to get back out of it."

Suggested to Norris such a step had tipped the balance for good for this season, he replied: "It has definitely tipped it in that direction, for sure.

"Coming into the [USGP] weekend, we weren't expecting it to be a great one for us so I don't think we can be too disappointed.

"With how the weekend played out, in FP1, FP2, FP3, we were quite good compared to Ferrari but maybe they were saving or whatever and they took it all away from us in quali.

"They definitely have the edge at the moment, they have the car, not quicker in every place but more consistent than us and more driveable.

"For us, it was so difficult with the wind, very easy to make mistakes and that is where their cars looked much nicer.

"It has definitely tipped in the way of Ferrari but that doesn't change the way we are pushing to stay ahead."