Lando Norris Falls Short of Expectations in Formula 1 British Grand Prix Qualifying
Formula 1 News – In a thrilling qualifying session at the British Grand Prix, Lando Norris of McLaren felt he “didn’t deliver” in his bid to secure pole position, ultimately falling short to George Russell and Lewis Hamilton’s impressive pace. This marks a rare misstep for Norris, who has been on a roll in recent weeks, topping Formula 1 qualifying in Spain and finishing second twice against the clock in Austria.
Norris had initially set the pace in Q2 at Silverstone, but his momentum was short-lived as Russell shot ahead to claim provisional pole in Q3. Hamilton then improved his effort to secure Mercedes’ first front-row lockout since the 2022 Brazilian GP, pushing Norris down to third on the grid.
“No, I was already 0.15s down,” Norris admitted when asked if he believed he could have secured pole without a minor slip in Q3. He credited Russell and Hamilton for their outstanding performance, acknowledging that Mercedes’ team effort was exceptional.
Norris also expressed admiration for Mercedes’ potential to fight for victory on Sunday, despite their typical 2024 deficit to McLaren and Red Bull. He drew on last year’s British GP, where Hamilton finished third behind Verstappen and Norris, highlighting the Silver Arrows squad’s impressive pace in the race.
The McLaren driver remains optimistic about his chances in the race, citing his team’s strong race pace over the last two months. “We’ve been very quick in races over the last two months – probably actually been one of our strengths, race pace over quali pace,” Norris said. “But, this is a very different type of circuit, with the layout. But it’s still a strength and hopefully it comes up towards us tomorrow.”
As Formula 1 today gears up for an action-packed British Grand Prix, Norris’ focus shifts to converting his third-place start into a strong finish, and potentially challenging the Mercedes duo for a spot on the podium. Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news and updates as the battle for supremacy unfolds.
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