Lando Norris has told Ted Kravitz not to \u201covercomplicate\u201d Formula 1, after all, it\u2019s for \u201cdummies\u201d at least when it comes to the drivers.<\/p>\n
His quip was in response to the pit lane reporter quizzing him on why he\u2019s so certain that McLaren is trailing Ferrari and Red Bull in different areas when teams could\u2019ve been running, or even sandbagging.<\/p>\n
Lando Norris: F1 for dummies, the driving part is anyway<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Formula 1\u2019s first official pre-season test took place at the Sakhir circuit, where Mercedes set the pace in a 1-2 result with Kimi Antonelli\u2019s 1:33.669s, 0.249 seconds up on George Russell\u2019s best time. McLaren\u2019s best time was set by Oscar Piastri, a 1:34.549.<\/p>\n However, it was Ferrari who was the standout in the longer runs according to Norris<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe weren\u2019t fast enough and we have a lot of work to do to try and improve,\u201d the reigning World Champion told Sky F1. \u201cI think we understood for the first time where we stand in terms of pace, at least compared to Ferrari, who completed a long run.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment we\u2019re not very close to Ferrari. We\u2019re not bad, but we\u2019re not fast enough.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just Ferrari who caught Norris\u2019 attention, as he also noted Red Bull\u2019s energy deployment with its new Red Bull-Ford power unit.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have a very good power unit by the looks of things,\u201d he told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets in Bahrain. \u201cThey deploy and have a lot of efficiency. We need to understand how they have that.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThe Red Bulls seem to have done a very good job, and the Ford powertrain seems to be very strong. Fair play to them. But, at the minute, they\u2019re a good step ahead of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Norris was by no means downbeat about the situation, acknowledging McLaren and its engine supplier Mercedes just need to improve a few things.<\/p>\n But quizzed by Kravitz on how he can tell McLaren is not quick enough, Norris replied: \u201cWhen you do a race run, you\u2019re full fuel, so you can\u2019t really hide that much.\u201d<\/p>\n Told that teams could be running light, or \u201ccould be running with a load of lead in their car wanting to sandbag, we don\u2019t know\u201d, Norris replied with a shake of his head: \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n More from the first pre-season test in Bahrain<\/p>\n Winners and losers from the first Bahrain test<\/a><\/p>\n Bahrain telemetry suggests Red Bull engine edge after Wolff claim<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t overcomplicate Formula One,\u201d he added. \u201cSometimes people aren\u2019t that smart.\u201d<\/p>\n Kravitz moved onto the new cars\u2019 bargeboards, which stick out further than the previous edition of cars, and voiced concerns about wheel-to-wheel racing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are overcomplicating stuff,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cF1 is for dummies, the driving part is anyway. The rest of it\u2019s for smart people. The dummies drive.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, I\u2019m not quite that close to people. I\u2019m sure when you get to Australia, turn one, you might see some flying by then I.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n