Mercedes cars have turned up their power units, Norris says

Lando Norris says the Mercedes-powered cars have turned their power units up at the Belgian Grand Prix, while Red Bull and Ferrari perhaps haven’t.

The opening practice session saw Red Bull fastest from Ferrari – with Max Verstappen leading the way – and the fastest Mercedes car nearly half a second off the pace. That turned around in FP2 as Kimi Antonelli was fastest and Norris ended up second, just 0.19s away from the Italian’s benchmark, as the lap times came down further.

“I think in terms of pace at the end, we seemed good on one lap,” Norris said. “We seemed reasonable, but there's been quite a few times throughout the season where we seem good in FP2 and we're off come qualifying.

“Today was more just getting through our plan in FP1. It wasn't the cleanest FP1. We had a few problems and a few issues, which didn't allow us to get out of the garage as quickly as we wanted to. And obviously it would have been nice to get a few more laps in the end without the red flag, just to learn some more about high fuel. Otherwise, I think we made some improvements between the sessions and we have to see if we can do another step into P3.

“We've not really changed anything this weekend, so there's no reason for us to expect anything different. Red Bull normally just don't turn up on Friday, so we're going to get to tomorrow and that'll be just as quick, if not quicker. So, let's just wait and see.

“I think we probably turned up with the Mercedes and the rest of them didn't. So, I think we're still probably fourth fastest. But it seems like if we can get things right, then we might be a little bit closer than we were in Silverstone.”

Although both McLaren cars spent time in the garage across the two sessions, the team had encouraging feedback from its new rear wing that is now being used by both drivers.

“[We were happy that it offered the performance that we thought it did and we've taken that forward into FP2 and obviously for the sessions moving forward,” McLaren’s technical director of engineering Neil Houldey said. "So pleased with that upgrade certainly, small stuff but obviously it all counts.

“I think Lando got the most out of the car as it was in that session so I don't think we can say that second is the position we're truly in. I think we've got opportunities in deployment, I think everyone's got opportunities in working out what optimal deployment is for the rest of the weekend but pleased that we're there or thereabouts in FP1, FP2 and therefore hopefully take that through to qualifying.

“From a setup perspective certainly Lando's side of the garage are pretty happy, Oscar's side a little bit less time to optimize the car so I think there's probably something there, and deployment we just need to spend a lot of time overnight looking at where the opportunities are, simulating a few different things and coming up with what we think is best for FP3.

“We've tried quite a lot of different options in FP1, FP2, we've seen a lot of other teams try a few different options and the optimum's out there somewhere, we just haven't found it yet.”