Lando Norris quipped it was a “bit annoying” that he was unable to get himself onto the second row of the grid for Formula 1’s French Grand Prix.
McLaren displayed strong pace through the three practice sessions and maintained that form into qualifying.
Norris emerged as the fifth-fastest driver and wound up just 0.009s behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr., meanwhile, will start from sixth position.
“I’m happy to beat one of them, on pure pace,” Norris said of the Red Bulls.
“We beat a Ferrari but I don’t think that was pure pace.
“To miss out on Verstappen by 0.009s was a bit annoying as there was the potential to go 0.009s quicker. A bit annoying but still happy to be here.”
Sainz Jr. was nonetheless sceptical as to whether McLaren can remain so close to Red Bull in race trim.
“Happy to beat one Red Bull yes, and I think we trailed the other one by 0.009s which is good news,” he said.
“I think Renault has done a good step on the engine, and I think on this kind of track that step on the engine is helping a lot and we are enjoying when it comes to qualifying.
“Are we going to beat Red Bull tomorrow? That’s the main question. I struggle to think that, but we’re going to give it our best chance.”
McLaren currently holds fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship, on 30 points, two ahead of Renault.
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