Norris Reflects on Progress After Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying
Lando Norris believes that his pole position lap at the Austrian Grand Prix signifies improvement in his title chase, though he acknowledged it doesn’t erase past errors from earlier in the season.
Norris finished qualifying 0.521 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who took second place. His McLaren teammate and championship competitor, Oscar Piastri, ended up in third after he had to abort his final lap due to yellow flags.
This positive qualifying result came after two weeks of introspection for Norris, who had a collision with Piastri in Canada, which resulted in his retirement and a 22-point deficit behind his teammate in the standings.
“It’s nice to see the old me back now and then,” Norris said via team radio after his impressive lap. “The car felt amazing today.” Despite his success, he emphasized the need for more consistent performance following mistakes made in previous qualifiers in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.
“While it feels great, consistency is key,” Norris noted. “Anyone can shine one weekend. This is definitely a step forward, and I’m pleased with today, but the journey is still long.” He acknowledged that today’s success does not compensate for earlier missteps but highlighted the importance of securing a strong performance when needed.
Norris’ lap marked his third pole position of the season, following his achievements in Monaco and Australia earlier this year. He described his performance as the best qualifying of the year, citing small mistakes but noting they didn’t hinder his overall lap time significantly.
McLaren introduced a major upgrade at the Austrian GP, which included a new front wing and revised suspension fairings, aimed at addressing Norris’ concerns over the car’s handling. Norris expressed that these updates have contributed to his improved confidence and performance.
Piastri expressed confidence that he could have contended for a front-row start had he not been impeded by a yellow flag incident involving Pierre Gasly. He acknowledged the challenge of achieving the perfect lap on the track but was determined to make progress during the race.
