Lando Norris expressed that his pole lap at the Austin Grand Prix was one of the best moments in his career, narrowly beating rival Max Verstappen by just three-hundredths of a second. The qualifying session took a dramatic turn when George Russell crashed at Turn 19, bringing out a late red flag that neutralized the session. This unexpected halt added an extra layer of tension to an already close contest among the top contenders, as Norris prepared to face Verstappen on the front row during the race.
Norris attributed part of his success to setup changes made to his McLaren between the Sprint race and qualifying, stating that these adjustments improved his performance. Despite this progress, he acknowledged that he still faced challenges during his best lap. He noted that he had to take significant risks to achieve his time and was pleased with the outcome, emphasizing that it was a lap he couldn’t replicate. His performance exceeded his expectations, placing him in a competitive position against Verstappen.
While Norris celebrated his achievement, he cautioned that McLaren might still be a bit off the pace compared to their competitors. He indicated that their performance relative to Verstappen and Red Bull has become more comparable over the weekend, suggesting that McLaren had made significant improvements. He did, however, express surprise at the strong performance of Ferrari and Mercedes, which seemed to outpace expectations during the race weekend. Norris recognized that Ferrari was particularly quick, especially in terms of tire degradation.
Addressing perceptions of McLaren’s performance, Norris explained that despite their recent successes, they have not consistently been the fastest team in every race. He reflected on previous races, such as Baku and Singapore, to illustrate that while McLaren has had standout moments, their position can fluctuate based on various factors. He suggested that the team might be viewed as the best all-rounder, but that this perception does not always align with reality. Norris emphasized the importance of understanding the team’s actual standing relative to others.
Norris concluded by underscoring the competitive nature of the current season and the close margins between teams. He highlighted the importance of accurate information in assessing performance, indicating that McLaren’s pace is not as far ahead of its rivals as some might believe. He pointed out specific areas where McLaren struggles compared to Red Bull and Ferrari, such as high-speed handling and slow-speed cornering. Norris’s comments reflected a keen awareness of the intricacies of race dynamics and the ongoing competition among top teams in Formula 1.