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Lando Norris faces a challenging weekend at Suzuka ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite qualifying fifth, he struggles with rhythm and confidence due to significant setbacks. A hydraulic issue on Friday limits his track time compared to teammate Oscar Piastri, who performs better. Saturday's final practice worsens as McLaren replaces his electric store, keeping him in the garage for crucial laps. Norris acknowledges, “I've certainly been playing catch-up the whole weekend.” He notes the lack of high-fuel laps impacts his performance, leaving him piecing together setups in real time. While he sees progress during qualifying, a sizeable gap remains to the leaders. The new regulations amplify the cost of lost track time, making it harder to adapt to the quicker, grippier circuit. Norris emphasizes the added complexity in managing energy and setups, stating, “It costs more than before.”
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