Norris Calls P2โค inโ qatar Qualifying a “Double Punishment”
Published: โคNovemberโค 3,2023
Lusail,Qatar – Lando Norris expressed frustration with his qualifying performance forโฃ the Qatar Grand Prix,ultimately securingโฃ second place onโ the grid despite initially holding pole position. The McLarenโฃ driver described his result as a “double punishment,” โacknowledging a compromised qualifying session and the disadvantage of starting on the right side of the โtrack at the Losail international Circuit.
Norris initially set the pace during theโ final qualifying segment, but โคa subsequentโ mistake on his second attempt provedโ costly. “Average. โคIt โwasn’t the best lap. There was a lot of room for โฃbetterment in my second lap. But I went off track and made a mistake. There’s nothing you can โฃdoโค about that now,” Norris told Viaplay following the session.
Theโฃ McLarenโค driver, currently leading the World Championship standings, elaborated on the implications of starting from second.”Second place is not a better position, and not the โคright side of the grid. So it is โคaโ double punishment,โ but I โขhaveโ toโ make the best โof it,” he stated.
A potential โคdisruption during his secondโข qualifyingโ lap, involving George Russell completing an extra warm-up โคlap, did not appear toโฃ impact Norris’s performance. When asked if Russell’s maneuver affected his run, Norris responded definitively, “No.”
Ultimately, โขNorris was unable to improve on his initial time afterโ the โขerror,โ allowing teammate Oscar Piastri to post a โขfaster lap andโ claim pole position.โฃ The qualifying session highlighted the โfine margins and competitive intensityโ within the McLaren team as โคthey โฃvie for success in โQatar.
McLaren’sโ Resurgence: This qualifying performance underscores McLaren’s significant progressโ throughout the โข2023 season. After a challenging start,โข the team has consistently introduced upgrades that have โpropelled them to the front of the โgrid, challenging Red Bull’sโค dominance.โ The driver pairing of Norris and Piastri โhas proven to be aโ potent โฃforce, with both drivers demonstratingโค the ability toโ extract maximum โขperformance from theโ MCL60.
Qualifying Strategy: Modern Formula 1 qualifyingโ often involves a delicate balance between maximizing pace and managingโ tire temperature.Drivers typically complete multiple โขlaps,attempting to improve their times โขwith eachโ run. Unexpected events,โ such as traffic or mechanical issues,โ can significantly disrupt โaโฃ driver’s strategy, โขas โevidenced byโ Norris’sโ experience inโฃ Qatar.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the significance of starting on the right โside ofโฃ the grid in Qatar?
โ A: โDrivers have noted that the right side โฃof the grid atโฃ Losail International โCircuit offers โฃless grip, perhaps hindering โคthe start.
- Q: Who currently leads the world Championship?
โค A: Lando Norris is currently leading the World Championship standings.
- Q: What caused Lando Norris’s mistakeโฃ during qualifying?
โค A: Norris went off โtrack during โคhis second qualifying lap, resulting in a compromised time.
