Lando Norris is “happy with the progress” he’s making in qualifying despite being frustrated to miss out on pole position for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Norris’ season prior to Miami had been characterised by inner turmoil and disheartening rhetoric.
The cause: a failure between man and machine to properly click in clutch moments during Q3 top-10 shootout qualifying sessions.
Norris’ problems were particularly prevalent in Bahrain, where he qualified sixth, and Saudi Arabia, where he crashed in Q3 to qualify 10th.
On both occasions, Norris was harshly self-critical, ruing missed opportunities and points to his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who won both of these races from the front row.
However, when Saturday came around at the Miami International Autodrome, Norris was in far better form and was pleased to secure a front row slot, but slightly peeved to be pipped to pole by 0.065s courtesy of Max Verstappen.
“I’m very happy with the end result,” he told select media including Motorsport Week.
“Just a shame when you miss out on pole, so that’s the only frustrating bit.
“But I think I’ve been trying different things, I’ve been doing different things with the team to try and work a bit more in this area and things have been taking a step forward.
“So I’m happy. Maybe not quite there yet, but happy with the progress.”
Norris pinpoints error that cost him pole in Miami
Norris couldn’t begrudge Verstappen pipping him to pole position, acknowledging that he “did a Max lap” to clinch top spot.
Still, a narrow margin to pole and a front row spot is a significant sign of progress for Norris in qualifying.
“Hats off to Max, especially being a dad now,” Norris said.
“I was hoping he was going to slow down a little bit, but it clearly didn’t.
“So no, I’m happy with today. I’m happy with the progress I’ve been making with the car, with myself.
“Max did a Max lap once again and I can’t fault him. So happy and yeah, excited for tomorrow.”
In parc ferme, Martin Brundle pointed out Norris’ lock-up into the Turn 17 hairpin, which the McLaren driver agreed cost him pole position.
“I think even that lap, well, it’s all ‘coulda, shoulda, woulda’ stuff, you know,” he said.
“But I didn’t deliver. I mean the pace was there.
“The car has been feeling good. I’ve been feeling better than I have done over the last few weekends.
“I’ve still not put it together, but it is what it is. Max on pole and P2, so yeah, ready to see what we can do into Turn 1 [on Sunday].”
Question marks lingered over Norris coming into Miami, but after victory in the Sprint and a front row grid slot secured for the GP, it looks as if the McLaren driver is well-prepared to answer his critics.
READ MORE – Lando Norris: ‘Everything went to plan’ en route to F1 Miami Sprint victory
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