McLaren driver Lando Norris said his team were well short of the pace during Thursday practice at the 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, according to BBC reporting. The opening session in Baku gave teams their first running of the race weekend, and Autosport published its takeaways from the day.
Norris's assessment was among the clearest signals from the session, with BBC describing McLaren as "miles off pace" in the Azerbaijani capital. Formula 1 also gathered reaction from all the teams after Thursday's running, while Sky Sports carried live updates, results and highlights across the day.
The Race framed the session in terms of winners and losers, reflecting how differently the first practice played out across the field. Autosport's review focused on what could be drawn from the day's running ahead of the rest of the weekend.
With only Thursday practice complete, the competitive picture in Baku remains unsettled. Teams now have further sessions to close the gaps identified on the opening day, and McLaren in particular will be looking to find time before qualifying.
