Lando Norris mentioned 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 permit drivers to push their vehicles 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 together 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 mentioned. “It feels just like the quickest circuit of the 12 months. I imply, the ultimate sector simply feels such as you’re hanging on. It was an honest 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 carried out for right now.”
Norris says the circumstances contributed to the errors on his remaining try, with wind gusts destabilizing vehicles because of their unpredictability.
“The wind performs a giant half, however the circumstances are additionally quite a bit higher than final season,” he mentioned. “It makes it quite a bit more durable bodily, however it additionally makes it a lot faster to drive. I believe a lot of the vehicles are near being flat in a lot of the corners within the remaining sector, which is sort of an accomplishment.
“It felt fast — and when it feels fast, it should 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 acquire confidence. That’s been the problem of right now, however it’s paid off. We made some good enhancements into qualifying and I used to be proud of it.”
With teammate Oscar Piastri ranging from third place behind George Russell, McLaren is concentrating on most factors on Saturday because it seems to try to wrap up the constructors’ championship.
“Our goal is one-two. We all know it’ll be a battle,” Norris mentioned. “Mercedes shall be fast, Ferrari shall be quick, so not anticipating a simple one. Most likely anticipating an thrilling one for everybody watching, so wanting ahead to it tomorrow.”
