Melbourne: Reigning champion Lando Norris strongly criticised Formula One’s new technical regulations after qualifying sixth for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.
The McLaren F1 Team driver said the overhaul of engines and chassis has made the cars much harder to drive, claiming the sport had gone from producing “the best cars ever made” to “probably the worst” in just one season.
Norris endured a difficult qualifying session marked by reliability and setup issues. The new driving style required by the regulations—focused heavily on energy harvesting and battery management—also frustrated the Briton, who said drivers must constantly adjust their pace to maintain the right battery levels.
Meanwhile, George Russell secured pole position for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team with a lap of 1:18.518, while teammate Kimi Antonelli qualified second. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri placed fifth, just ahead of Norris.
Norris also faced an unusual setback during the session when a cooling fan fell off Antonelli’s car and was struck by his McLaren, cracking his front wing and forcing a quick repair in the garage.
Despite the issues, Norris said he was relatively satisfied with sixth place under the circumstances, though he admitted he was not optimistic about improved performance in Sunday’s race.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the team would work closely with engine supplier Mercedes High Performance Powertrains to unlock more performance, noting that Mercedes’ strong showing proves there is still potential in the power unit.
