Driver Sainz exploits Norris' honesty at Hungarian GP.
Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz were team-mates at McLaren
- Venue: Hungaroring
- Dates: 1-3 August
- Race start: 14:00 BST on Sunday
McLaren driver Lando Norris' former team-mate Carlos Sainz mentioned that Norris' openness about his vulnerabilities is sometimes used against him. Sainz, who partnered with Norris at McLaren from 2019-20, expressed that Norris is very open with the media and people, which can be used against him by others.
Sainz, now driving for Williams, noted that Norris is genuine in expressing his feelings and thoughts, which is rare among drivers. Sainz finds it sad that Norris faces criticism for being open, as other drivers likely have similar doubts and self-criticisms but choose not to share them publicly.
Norris led the Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, outpacing his team-mate Oscar Piastri by 0.291 seconds. This race marks the end of the first part of the season before Formula 1's summer break, with Norris currently trailing Piastri by 16 points.
Sainz believes Norris has the potential to win a World Championship based on his speed and talent. Despite some errors this season, including struggles with car handling and on-track incidents, Sainz is confident in Norris' abilities and sees a bright future for him in Formula 1.
In the practice sessions at the Hungaroring, Norris topped the timesheets in both sessions, with Piastri close behind each time. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc followed in third place. Norris faced challenges during the sessions, making mistakes and having a narrow escape at the final corner.
Piastri expressed satisfaction with the team's performance despite some areas needing improvement. Other notable performances in practice included Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martins, and Lewis Hamilton struggling with rear-end stability.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull faced difficulties during practice, citing low grip and balance issues with the car. Verstappen also had to explain to stewards why he threw a towel out of his car during the session, receiving a warning from officials for the incident.