Monaco pole means more after qualifying struggles - Norris

Lando Norris admits his pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix means more to him after his tough run in qualifying for much of this season.

Saturday’s performance in Monaco was just the second time this year that Norris has qualified on pole, following his result at the season-opener in Australia. Aside from that, teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen have secured three poles apiece, and Norris says the improvements he has been trying to find makes this weekend’s result all the more satisfying.

“It means a lot,” Norris said. “Not just because it's been a while since I've been here, but just because of how things have been, how things have gone over the last couple of months, in qualifying.

“To come here with a fresh mindset and plenty more opportunities – and in Monaco, it's just a cooler, more special place to do it. A harder place, because it's more difficult as a lap, more exciting, more pressure, but the most relief at the same time when you do a good job. And today was that day.

“It means a lot to me, to my whole team, because we've been working a lot for another moment like this.”

Norris had to deliver on his final lap of Q3 after Charles Leclerc went fastest overall, with the home favorite setting the pace in all three practice sessions. After setting a new track record to secure pole, Norris says the competition he faced also adds to the achievement.

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“I had a reasonable amount [of confidence]," he said. "I mean, you’re never going to be full of it when you know Charles has been quickest in every session, but I think we were always there or thereabouts.

“Always knew that I could push a little bit more in a few places and gain some lap time, but I definitely think going into qualifying, I started to just unlock more and more, and I was gaining more confidence through quali. That's exactly what you want around here – improved confidence through the session, especially in Q3, when I've just done two strong laps.

“Obviously, a good banker, which just gives you that reassurance that you can then go a little bit more the next time around. But it's not just these two – it's Charles, Oscar, Max has been fast, Lewis [Hamilton] has been quick. It's a good grid. It's a good competition from everyone, so it always makes it a little bit better.”

In the past, Norris would already be on the verge of victory by securing pole position at a track where overtaking is so difficult, but he says the new mandatory two-stop rules add a curveball that he will turn his attentions to in the morning.

“It's impossible to put a number on [how much of the job is done already]," he said. "Especially here and more so probably in the past than going into a new-rule race tomorrow. I would have felt like a higher number if it was last year's rules, but obviously this year, things have changed.

“My only focus until this point has been qualifying, so I’ve not thought about the race. I don’t need to until later with the team. For now, I'm enjoying the moment of the laps that I did.”