As F1 prepares to face the second week of pre-season testing before the start of the 2022 season, drivers are still analyzing their first impressions from Barcelona testing performances and perspectives, in their own teams, and on the rivals.

Lando Norris, who topped the timesheets on the second day of testing two weeks ago in Montmeló with a strong looking McLaren, spoke, as quoted first by motorsport.com, and assured that, even though he has his idea of the grid’s competitiveness after the first official on-track-action of the year, you can't get a completely fair picture judged by just testing sessions:

"Mercedes never look like that good in testing – until they get to the first race. If they're good in testing, it means they're probably going to be incredible by the first race."

"So, no, I think everyone is working on their own programmes, everyone is on different fuel loads and power modes and whatever.”

"We can see a picture, we can see we are in decent position, but then Mercedes and Ferrari have looked very good since day one. They've been at the top of the timesheets every single time and their long run pace looks good.”

🚶🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/tEfIIZGXXJ

— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) March 1, 2022

After a strong 2021 season where McLaren fought until the last race of the season to take final P3 on the constructors’ standings and finally losing with Ferrari, the Woking-based team is aiming to improve their results and performance this year, but as Lando Norris is concluding so far, Mercedes and Red Bull could be ahead of the McLaren in terms of performance, again.

"Ferrari look very strong, but Mercedes and Red Bull are right there with us and if anything, I would say a little bit ahead at the moment."

"Personally, I feel like we have a lot of work to do as team if we want to be fighting with them.”

"That's expected but I think we know there's still many things for us to improve on to get to the level they're at,” he concluded.