Norris: 'Bahrain has shown how strong Red Bull and Mercedes are'

Lando Norris had a good start during his third season with McLaren at the Bahrain International Circuit, driving to fourth place to prove himself the best of the rest. Looking ahead to the Grand Prix at Imola, the Brit says that the papaya-coloured cars of himself and Daniel Ricciardo are still behind Mercedes and Red Bull, but that the team is working hard to close the gap completely.

In a press release from McLaren, Norris commented on his team's strengths relative to the rest of the field as follows: "There are still areas we need to work on to try and unlock that extra bit of potential that can make us more competitive, but we’re pushing hard to make those steps."

"The first race really showed how strong the competition is this year, which is going to make for some exciting on-track battles that I’m looking forward to", the Briton continued.

Preparation essential

Looking ahead to the upcoming Grand Prix at Imola, Norris sees opportunities for his team if the preparations go well: "It’s great to be back at Imola again this season. As always, we’ll be aiming to maximise the time on-track to get the most out of the car in preparation for qualifying and the race. Track position is important in Imola with limited chances for overtakes. ... Turn One will be the best opportunity to make a pass, and it could be tricky elsewhere with the track being so narrow. We’ll be pushing to make the most of the weekend and score some good points."