Here we go — thought I’d jot down a few thoughts because, honestly, why not? It seems like Formula 1 teams, man, they’re just masters at setting each other up. It’s like a game they all play, turning the spotlight on the team with the fastest wheels. Kind of like how Red Bull was the talk of the town forever, and now it’s McLaren in the hot seat. These days, it’s like everyone’s keeping their eyes on them, especially when they popped up as big contenders at the freaking start of the season.
I’ve got this memory from back in February. McLaren was killing it during those pre-season rounds over in Bahrain. If you squint, you might have seen the whispers of a win there all the way from then — yeah, it was that obvious. And they were just dominating practice sessions, totally showing off in FP3. But funny enough, Bahrain’s track is a bit of a chameleon — scorching in FP1 and FP3, then cooled under the lights for the real deal. There’s something oddly satisfying about that track. Seriously!
Piastri, the kid from Down Under, snagged pole in style. Second in three races, geez. The guy was stoked. I remember him mentioning FP1 wasn’t fun but hey, he wasn’t alone. Everyone had a bit of a struggle bus there, didn’t they? But by FP3, he and that car were synced up like my morning coffee with a sunrise — just smooth. He even admitted their FP3 pace was a bit of a head-scratcher. They were baffled too. Bouncing between competitors like Leclerc and Russell, it was like watching a tennis match. Everyone was hitting their strides at different times. Wild!
Okay, picture this: Piastri’s killing it in FP3, miles ahead of Norris. Faces at McLaren were something else. Almost felt like Norris had been more caught up watching Verstappen these days. I mean, makes sense, right? That pressure knob just kept turning as Piastri thrived and Norris… well, let’s say he didn’t bask in the same limelight.
I can recall Norris looking a bit lost out there. Don’t get me wrong — he was honest about it. Straight up said he couldn’t ride with the car’s vibe. It was like he was at a pizza joint but didn’t care for pie. He kept saying the car was awesome, so all eyes were on him to step up. How about that?
Despite all that, Norris seemed hell-bent on pointing the finger at himself, talking how the car was a beast this whole season. It felt like a weird pressure-cooker situation though. He’s trying to find his rhythm, but each time he thinks he’s got it, like a gust of wind changes the whole play. Ah, the lovely unpredictability of F1!
Anyway, Norris seems unfazed by any team rivalry drama. He’s all about himself right now, probably trying to climb out of this rut. And, of course, Sunday awaits. Another day, another lap, another story. That’s the F1 thriller for you, where you never really know how the drama’s gonna unfold or who’s breaking the tape first. Gotta love it.
