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Autosport
Autosport
Ben Vinel

What’s behind Norris’ top-speed issue in Baku – and why McLaren itself is down on Mercedes

A technical problem caused a lack of top speed on Lando Norris’ McLaren Formula 1 car in Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying, with the reigning world champion down in fifth.

Despite having outqualified team-mate Oscar Piastri 9-1 in the 10 previous sessions, Norris found himself three tenths’ adrift in Q3 – his worst deficit of the season. A lock-up in Q3 didn’t help, but as it happens, the McLaren driver was hindered by an issue on his MCL40.

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