Norris ‘hanging on’ in securing Dash pole

Lando Norris stated he felt like he was hanging onto his automotive throughout a Dash qualifying lap on the high-speed Lusail circuit forward of the Qatar Grand Prix.

Lusail’s quick corners and flat curbs enable drivers to push their automobiles near their limits, whereas additionally offering a bodily take a look at for themselves behind the wheel. Norris secured pole place for Saturday’s Dash along with his first flying lap of SQ3 and admits he couldn’t execute a clear try on his second run.

“It’s robust, as a result of it’s so fast round right here,” Norris stated. “It feels just like the quickest circuit of the yr. I imply, the ultimate sector simply feels such as you’re hanging on. It was a good lap, I made too many errors on my second. However we had been coming right here to get pole, and we did that, so job completed for right this moment.”

Norris says the circumstances contributed to the errors on his last try, with wind gusts destabilizing automobiles because of their unpredictability.

“The wind performs an enormous half, however the circumstances are additionally loads higher than final season,” he stated. “It makes it loads more durable bodily, however it additionally makes it a lot faster to drive. I feel a lot of the automobiles are near being flat in a lot of the corners within the last sector, which is kind of an accomplishment.

“It felt fast — and when it feels fast, it have to be very quick. It’s a problem to place a lap collectively, particularly when the tires don’t really feel in for the start, and thru the lap you achieve confidence. That’s been the problem of right this moment, however it’s paid off. We made some good enhancements into qualifying and I used to be pleased with it.”

With teammate Oscar Piastri ranging from third place behind George Russell, McLaren is concentrating on most factors on Saturday because it appears to attempt to wrap up the constructors’ championship.

“Our goal is one-two. We all know it’ll be a battle,” Norris stated. “Mercedes might be fast, Ferrari might be quick, so not anticipating a simple one. In all probability anticipating an thrilling one for everybody watching, so wanting ahead to it tomorrow.”