Lando Norris says McLaren’s pace in Thursday practice sessions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is poor, and he does not expect the team to contend for pole position in Baku. Norris characterizes the performance as “pretty pants,” indicating limited competitiveness over the running seen so far.
The reports agree that Norris’ comments reflect his assessment of the car’s form based on practice, rather than any change in regulations or a confirmed technical update. Both outlets frame the statement as a expectations-setting remark ahead of qualifying, emphasizing that qualifying performance could differ from practice results but that Norris is currently not anticipating pole contention.
While there are no additional differing details in the provided accounts, both sources present the same core message: Norris is lowering expectations after Thursday’s sessions, suggesting McLaren may focus on improving its setup and performance before the qualifying shootout.
