Lando Norris: I can't reach my potential yet

      Lando Norris finished third in Bahrain and is unhappy with the result – he expected more.…

      Q: Lando, congratulations on a good race. Were you happy with the car on Sunday?Lando Norris: The car is fine. The race was won on it. So yes, I'm happy with the car.

      Q: You didn't look happy after qualifying. Are you more optimistic now?Lando Norris: The situation has changed. I finished sixth in qualifying, it was terrible. How could I be satisfied?

      I managed to win back the race, I got off to a good start, finished third, and got on the podium. I am satisfied with the result. But in this race, the highest possible result was second place, which means I should have finished second, but I didn't achieve it, including because of my own mistakes. So I have mixed feelings. Oscar demonstrated the speed of our car, and I made too many mistakes.

      Question: But is there any positive result from this weekend?Lando Norris: That it's over.

      Question: You got off to a good start and won back a few places. Were you thinking about winning at that moment?Lando Norris: I knew it wouldn't be easy to beat George – they're in good shape this weekend, but I was happy to be third. Then I got fined and things got a lot worse. I had to attack to win it back, I was able to do it, but I was driving on worn and overheated tires, and it was like paying for my mistake once again.

      I was more pleased with my speed in the race than in qualifying, but it was very difficult to overtake, as the clutch dropped sharply in the disturbed air flow behind the other car. I haven't fully gotten used to this car yet.

      Question: After qualifying, you said that you need to reboot, start all over again. Was it said out of emotion due to disappointment with the result? What can you do in the short term to achieve a better understanding with the machine?Lando Norris: I'm sorry, but I don't have an answer. If I had known, I would have told you. You just know about yourself that when everything is fine, everything works out for you. I have everything I need to succeed, and I have no doubt that I can achieve it, but something doesn't match, it doesn't work out. I can't do a single lap like I did last season.

      Even in Australia, where I won the race, I didn't feel comfortable. Our car is so good that it solves many of my problems on its own. Many, but not all. I can't attack at full strength, I can't realize my potential.

      After qualifying, I didn't leave the track for a long time, I thought a lot, I tried to understand what these difficulties were related to, what had changed compared to last year. Have I changed? Or some part of the car?

      No, don't think that I've started to doubt my abilities, even if that's how it sometimes looks. I am completely confident in myself. It's just that something stopped working, so I don't feel comfortable driving. When this feeling is not there, when you are not confident in the car, you will not be able to achieve the maximum. And without that, it's impossible to compete with the best in the world.

      Q: Maybe you should just remind yourself that you are a fast and talented racer?Lando Norris: Yes. It's equally important not to show how you feel. When I give an interview, it's obvious that I'm upset. It's because of my desire to succeed, my desire to win. When I know what I'm capable of, but I'm not even close to the desired goal, like on Saturday, I'm very disappointed.

      I'm focused on winning, I crave it, I do my best, and when it doesn't work out, I get very upset. It's been like this all my life. Sometimes it gets in the way, sometimes it helps – I do not know. That's the way I'm built. I was pessimistic on Saturday, but I slept well and felt much better in the morning. A new day gave me new hope, and I was able to realize it in part. I have a few weekends to recover and move on.