Norris claims He Didn’t See Verstappen During Qatar Sprint Race
Lusail, Qatar – Lando Norris secured crucial points in the Qatar sprint race, finishing in third position and gaining a point over championship leader Max Verstappen. Despite Verstappen’s early pressure, Norris stated he was unaware of the Dutchman’s proximity throughout the race.
The McLaren driver focused his attention on closing the gap to George Russell, who was ahead.”I never actually saw him!” Norris explained post-race. “I only saw George Russell in front of me, I was trying to get to the front. We were quite close together at the start, but it was okay. But no, I didn’t see what happened behind me.”
Norris acknowledged the demanding nature of the sprint race, highlighting the difficulty of overtaking at the Losail International Circuit. “It was a long stint and it felt like there was a lot of pushing. So it will be a tough race on Sunday. It’s just not easy to overtake here. So it’s all about qualifying,” he said.
The performance of Mercedes, particularly George Russell’s near-pole position for the sprint, also caught Norris’s attention. “George was almost on pole (for the sprint race). He shows that the Mercedes is fast and he is doing very well. So I think it will be exciting.”
Looking ahead to qualifying later today, Norris expressed confidence in his team’s readiness. “I don’t think it will be easy, but the team has given us a very good car again, as they have always done this year, and it is fast. It is a hellish round here in qualifying. So I am looking forward to it.”
Oscar Piastri also benefited from the sprint race, gaining two points.
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