#Norris says McLaren upgrades are ‘a step forward’ while sick Piastri is happy to see the back of Baku
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Norris says McLaren upgrades are a step forward while sick Piastri is happy to see the back of Baku
After a tough start to the season McLaren brought a significant upgrade package to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and Lando Norris was able to put it to good use as he came home in the points in Baku. Oscar Piastri couldn’t follow him home in the top 10 though, the Australian having to settle for P11 on a weekend where he was laid low with a stomach bug.
A promising qualifying on Friday had yielded two top-10 berths for the McLaren drivers, but neither found Lady Luck smiling down on them in Sunday’s Grand Prix. Piastri dropped out of the top 10 on the opening lap after contact with the Williams of Alex Albon into the second corner, the Australian caught between two cars and left with nowhere to go.
As for Norris, he pitted early to switch onto the hard compound tyre – only to see his rivals get a ‘free’ pit stop a few laps later when the Safety Car came out.
READ MORE: Hamilton rues Safety Car that ‘kicked me in the teeth’ as Russell vows to ‘come back stronger’ in Miami
“[It] didn’t make a difference really,” Norris said afterwards. “I would have finished P9 either way. Just a tough race, long, sat behind the cars with our straight-line speed, and just with quite a short DRS zone. Not just for us, but everyone [it was] just very, very difficult to overtake.”
Norris endured a frustrating race but did come home in the points
Norris had been stuck behind the one-stopping Haas of Nico Hulkenberg for much of the race, but was able to pull out a move on the German late on, when he made a mistake and ran wide.
“We did the best we could," he added. "Ninth is all we can achieve at the minute. I try and go with the guys ahead and one lap later the tyres go off a cliff. It’s a challenge. We are little bit closer, this track has definitely helped us, but we will see how we are in Miami.”
When asked about the upgrades, which the timing sheets indicated had bought the McLarens about two tenths of pure performance, Norris conceded that the track characteristics here made it difficult to tell just how big an improvement it had given the team – but that they should know more next week after the Miami Grand Prix.
READ MORE: What the teams said – Race day in Azerbaijan
“[It] doesn’t feel any different inside the car but it is a step forward," he said. "I’m just being honest with it. Everyone will probably say ‘yeah it felt mega’ but you don’t feel it. It’s such a small amount in every corner, the oversteer is a little bit less.
Piastri was unwell for much of the weekend in Baku
"It’s a step forward in terms of like efficiency, also a little bit. We weren’t expecting a bit step, and like we said Baku was not the track where we will show its potential. Miami we will maybe understand a bit more, and some of the high-speed corners, because that was more where it was aimed at.”
As for his team mate, Piastri had been fighting off sickness all weekend and had lost three kilos of bodyweight since arriving in Baku. He couldn’t back up his points finish from last time out in Melbourne, but P10 in the Sprint and 11th in the Grand Prix is still a decent showing from the driver who is learning fast in his rookie year.
“I think the adrenalin is doing a very good job," he said. "But shame to be one point away – or one spot away from the points. I think we still learned a lot about tyre management stuff during this race, so definitely not a waste. Happy to get to the end of the weekend to be completely honest. But still, we can learn, and a lot to look at after the weekend.”
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch as Sergio Perez wins the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com
#F1#Norris says McLaren upgrades are ‘a step forward’ while sick Piastri is happy to see the back of Baku#Formula 1
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ICYMI: The best social media moments from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
The first Sprint weekend of the season in Baku was thoroughly entertaining on the track, but the teams also did their best to keep us amused off it. So, in case you missed it, here is a run down of the best of social media from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
Hamilton and Russell go back and forth
We did see Lewis Hamilton and George Russell go wheel to wheel on track in Sunday’s Grand Prix but, ahead of the race, they also did battle off the track, with a game of table tennis on Thursday night. Someone better ask them in Miami who won.
READ MORE: SAY WHAT?! Alonso and Stroll's bromance, red flag frustration and plenty of apologies in the best team radio from Baku
Sargeant's struggles
Formula 1 has often been the pillar of technology and the drivers are 20 of the best in the world at operating these insane machines. But sometimes they struggle with the little things, like Logan Sargeant trying to put on headphones.
Vasseur the cake menace
There were a couple of birthdays at Ferrari over the Baku race weekend, and the Scuderia celebrated in style with some cake. Clearly if you are about to blow out your candles at Ferrari, make sure Frederic Vasseur is nowhere near.
F1 NATION: King of the streets Perez strikes again as Ferrari edge closer – it's our Azerbaijan GP review
Perez's new career
It was quite the weekend for Perez, as not only did he win both the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix, but he also made his modelling debut. We think he looks good.
READ MORE: Horner says Perez had a 'sensational weekend' at Baku as Red Bull take their 25th 1-2 finish
AlphaTauri fire acting
What is more impressive in this video? Tsunoda blowing out the Flame Towers or the Japanese driver and Nyck de Vries’ epic acting skills. You be the judge.
READ MORE: 5 Winners and 5 Losers from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Who lit up the Land of Fire?
A couple of laughing Brits
Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, new golf buddies Hamilton and Norris were engaged in what looks like a pleasant conversation. What did Lewis say to have Lando laughing like this?
READ MORE: Norris says McLaren upgrades are ‘a step forward’ while sick Piastri is happy to see the back of Baku
Tsunoda is at peace
Tsunoda makes another appearance on this list as, while his Sprint Shootout may have been curtailed by a red flag, he was still seen hanging from a window in high spirits on Saturday evening.
READ MORE: De Vries shoulders blame for Baku crash, while Tsunoda says he ‘maximised’ AlphaTauri package with points finish
There's something on your face
There is something different about Perez and Verstappen in this picture but we cannot tell exactly what it is. Did they dye their hair? Maybe you guys can tell what it is.
READ MORE: Perez relieved his tyre ‘didn’t blow up’ en route to becoming first ever multiple Azerbaijan GP winner
Lewis the night owl
This weekend taught us that even a seven-time world champion is no different to the rest of us. Like many, Hamilton also spends time on his phone when he should be working.
READ MORE: Hamilton rues Safety Car that ‘kicked me in the teeth’ as Russell vows to ‘come back stronger’ in Miami
Steiner pre-quali delight
With the new Sprint format, we had qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix on Friday afternoon, and Guenther Steiner and his Haas team were very much looking forward to it.
MONDAY MORNING DEBRIEF: Would Perez have beaten Verstappen in Baku without the Safety Car?
via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com
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