McLaren provides update on Norris' battery issue ahead of Japanese GP FP3

Lando Norris faced a last-minute battery issue with his McLaren ahead of the final practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix, jeopardizing his track time. Team CEO Zak Brown confirmed the problem is being addressed by Mercedes HPP, but Norris was set to lose a significant portion of the crucial FP3 running at Suzuka.

Why it matters:

Reliability in practice sessions is critical for dialing in car setup at a demanding circuit like Suzuka, where precision is key. Missing valuable track time can compromise qualifying and race performance, putting Norris at an immediate disadvantage in a tight championship battle where every point counts.

The details:

• McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports the issue was diagnosed as a battery problem within the car's Energy Recovery System (ERS).
• Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP), McLaren's engine supplier, was working to change the battery unit during the session.
• Brown indicated Norris would "definitely lose a lot of the session" while the fix was underway.
• This incident mirrors a similar pre-race battery problem Norris encountered at the previous Chinese Grand Prix, suggesting a potential recurring concern.

What's next:

The immediate focus for McLaren is to get Norris back on track for the remainder of FP3 and, more critically, ensure the car is fully reliable for qualifying and the race. The repeated nature of the battery issue will likely prompt a deeper investigation between McLaren and Mercedes HPP to prevent a third occurrence, which could have severe consequences for Norris's championship campaign.