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Norris frustrated after missed front row in Abu Dhabi
Lando Norris says he is “doing a s**t job on Saturday” after an error on his final qualifying lap left him fifth on the grid at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
McLaren has looked a candidate for the second fastest team throughout the weekend in Abu Dhabi, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri both in the top three in FP3. While Piastri went on to secure third on the grid, Norris was set for a quicker lap time but had to catch a massive slide in the final sector and says it cost him at least three positions on the grid.
“It cost four-tenths,” Norris said. “100 percent (it cost a front row spot). I didn’t do it, so it doesn’t matter.
“I don’t know if it was for P1, maybe, but I don’t think it would’ve been P1. I don’t care if you make any mistake in qualifying, when you’re fighting for a good position, it’s frustrating, but the thing is, I just make so many mistakes on a Saturday at the minute.
“Every other lap was some of my best laps. My first lap in Q3 was very strong, it’s just one little mistake, I don’t know why it happened, I've not done that all weekend. Just frustrating, I’m just doing a s**t job on Saturday.”
Norris denied a suggestion that he’s being too harsh on himself after earning another top-five starting position.
“Not at all. I should’ve been P2, and I end up P5 because of a stupid mistake," he insisted. "I’m too soft on myself.”
Norris’ boss Zak Brown was less frustrated by the situation, with both cars starting in the first five spots.
“I think we left a little bit on the table in qualifying, but as I said to Andrea [Stella, team principal] it’s pretty good when we’re a little bit disappointed with P3 and P5,” Brown told SpeedCity Broadcasting. “I think we’re in good shape. We’ve got two fast race cars, two very fast racing drivers, so we just need to execute tomorrow.
“I think [Norris] had a P2 in him there, but if he can get to P2 like he did in Brazil at Turn 1 then I think that will mean Oscar will want to be in P1 because I don’t think he’s going to want to be passed by anyone.
“Max [Verstappen] doesn’t seem to have been as quick all weekend long. I’d like to think we could push him, but my sneaking suspicion is he’s now got it all together come qualifying, he’ll be pretty tough in the race, but we’re going to try.
“We want to race for the win, for the podium. It’s kind of defensive driving to worry about people behind you so we’ve got to look forward.”
Presented by:
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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