Lando Norris mentioned his makes an attempt to problem Max Verstappen for the lead of the Japanese Grand Prix have been thwarted by his tyres overheating.
The McLaren driver pursued his rival all through the 53-lap race at Suzuka. Norris appeared to come back underneath menace from his workforce mate Oscar Piastri at instances, however he mentioned this was solely when he’d intentionally dropped again from Verstappen to ensure that his tyres to recuperate.
“I don’t suppose I ever acquired lower than 1.2 [seconds behind],” mentioned Norris. “I might get nearer after which drop again and nearer and drop again. And each time I acquired shut, the tyres would simply get too sizzling and I might lose an excessive amount of grip.
“Even when Oscar was behind me, it appeared like he was faster, nevertheless it was once I’m making an attempt to drop again just a little bit to chill the tyres after which try at catching as much as Max. Nevertheless it simply by no means labored. I gave it an excellent attempt however I simply didn’t have the pace right now.”
Norris mentioned he wasn’t in a position to keep near Verstappen out of the low-speed acceleration zones, the hairpin and the chicane, which compromised his makes an attempt to assault the Purple Bull.
“The tempo was too related,” he informed Viaplay. “We didn’t actually have any benefit to Max.
“Possibly we have been a bit higher in sector one, within the high-speed corners, however he was a lot faster in slow-speed corners. So we have been struggling loads there with the automotive, simply not fast sufficient within the slow-speed.
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“It was simply tough with him within the clear air and me within the soiled air, so shut, we didn’t have sufficient of a bonus to do anything.
“So nothing to complain about, [just] issues to work on as a result of we have been struggling a bit right now with the sluggish pace corners. However actually Max received the race yesterday in qualifying. It’s the best way it’s typically.”
Norris indicated McLaren made some concessions in its set-up for the moist situations which have been forecast for right now’s race. Nevertheless the showers which did hit the observe handed properly earlier than the beginning and the observe remained largely dry all through.
“We thought there can be perhaps some extra rain right now,” mentioned Norris. “Possibly we weren’t within the optimum vary yesterday for qualifying, pondering that it was going to rain just a little bit right now, however we did our greatest nonetheless, in order that’s all I can ask.”
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