Lando Norris acknowledged that McLaren remains significantly behind the pace set by Red Bull following the qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Despite securing sixth place on the grid, Norris will start fifth after Isack Hadjar received a penalty. His comments highlighted the ongoing challenges McLaren faces in closing the gap to the leading teams.
After qualifying on October 3, 2026, Norris admitted that McLaren is “a long way off the pace” compared to Red Bull, with a gap of around 0.6 seconds to Max Verstappen. Both Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri were competing at the Sepang circuit for the first time, making gradual progress throughout the practice sessions. Piastri qualified seventh but felt he left some performance unused and anticipated a tough race ahead.
McLaren’s car showed particular struggles on the straights, an area Norris pointed out as a significant weakness. He also noted the unexpected dominance of Red Bull, which further emphasized the challenge for his team. Weather conditions and tyre degradation are expected to play a crucial role in the race, with high tyre wear likely to influence strategies and outcomes.
Oscar Piastri’s assessment after qualifying reflected a cautious approach, acknowledging that there was room for improvement in his lap times. Both McLaren drivers recognized the difficulty of the race ahead, given the combination of tyre degradation and the car’s straight-line speed deficit. These factors are expected to make it challenging for McLaren to compete directly with the top teams during the Grand Prix.
The qualifying results underline the current performance gap between McLaren and the leading teams, particularly Red Bull. While Norris’s starting position benefits slightly from Hadjar’s penalty, the overall pace deficit remains a concern. The team’s adaptation to the Sepang circuit, combined with the evolving race conditions, will be key elements to monitor during the event.
In summary, Norris’s comments after qualifying provide a clear indication of McLaren’s position within the field at this stage of the weekend. The team faces a notable challenge in matching the pace of Red Bull and other front-runners, especially in terms of straight-line speed and tyre management. The race in Malaysia is expected to test McLaren’s ability to manage these issues under demanding conditions.