Lando Norris Faces McLaren Challenges Despite Hungary FP Dominance

Lando Norris admitted difficulties in optimizing his McLaren despite topping Free Practice (FP1 and FP2) at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix. SPORTRIK’s in-depth analysis highlights Norris’s strong performance at Hungaroring, tempered by challenges from several mistakes.

Norris became the third driver this season to top both FP1 and FP2 in a grand prix weekend, following Oscar Piastri at Imola and Charles Leclerc in Monaco. He set the fastest times in both sessions, outpacing Piastri, who finished second. Thus, McLaren dominated at Hungaroring. However, Norris noted the sessions were not entirely smooth. Consequently, his strong performance was marred by challenging moments.

Norris experienced a significant moment in FP2, nearly spinning at the final corner after a wheel touched the grass. Additionally, he narrowly avoided a collision with Piastri at the pit exit. “This session was messier, on low and high fuel,” Norris said. He explained these mistakes were part of finding the car’s limits. Nevertheless, he knows what he wants from the car but finds it “hard” to achieve. Therefore, further adjustments are needed.

Although the car felt good from the first lap, Norris emphasized that extracting maximum performance remains challenging. “I know what I want from the car, but getting it might be harder,” he stated. As a result, McLaren must refine the car’s setup before qualifying. Furthermore, the fact that neither Piastri nor Leclerc won their races after dominating Fridays adds pressure to capitalize on this advantage.

SPORTRIK predicts Norris will focus on qualifying to maintain McLaren’s edge. Therefore, minimizing errors and perfecting the car setup will be crucial. Consequently, tire strategy and fast lap management are key. Moreover, competition with Ferrari and Aston Martin is expected to be tight. For Formula 1 updates, visit SPORTRIK.