McLaren explain what ‘caught us by surprise’ in Malaysia

McLaren experienced mixed results during the first day of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with Oscar Piastri acknowledging that the team seemed to have improved from the first to the second practice session. Piastri finished sixth in FP2 after struggling in FP1, while Lando Norris climbed to third place, indicating progress for the team.

Randy Singh, McLaren's Senior Racing Director, explained that the track conditions were unexpectedly challenging due to lower grip and rougher surfaces. He expressed optimism about the car's performance after adjustments made during the day, although Piastri suggested that the team remains slightly behind the leading competitors, including Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari.