Lando Norris qualified sixth for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after McLaren struggled to match the pace set by Red Bull and other frontrunners at Sepang International Circuit. The reigning world champion finished 0.6 seconds behind Max Verstappen's pole position time, describing his team as a long way off the pace despite delivering what he considered a good personal lap.
Neither Norris nor teammate Oscar Piastri had competed at Sepang before, making gradual progress throughout practice before facing qualifying challenges. While Verstappen dominated the session for Red Bull, McLaren dropped behind Ferrari drivers and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, leaving Norris to settle for sixth place on the grid.
The McLaren driver acknowledged the competitive order had been shaken up, with Mercedes appearing quicker than expected and Red Bull showing surprising pace all weekend. He suggested McLaren might be struggling more than anticipated due to the rough tarmac surface and challenging conditions at the Malaysian venue.
Norris remained reluctant to predict how Sunday's race will unfold, noting factors like weather and tire degradation could create opportunities. He warned that his car remains slow on the straights for unknown reasons, which will make overtaking difficult and create additional challenges during what promises to be a demanding race.