Lando Norris revealed he has yet to make up his mind over his approach to the title decider at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after losing pole position to Max Verstappen.
Norris looked supreme in practice, comfortably faster than title rivals Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, entering qualifying as the favourite for pole position at the F1 Abu Dhabi GP.
Instead, his pace disappeared, and the Briton visibly lost confidence in the car in Q1 and Q2, struggling to match the pace of the title contenders.
Setting a time that secured a front row start, lining up next to Verstappen, he remains as the favourite to take the title, a podium finish all the McLaren driver needs to become champion.
Norris confessed disappointment not taking pole position, but took solace in extracting maximum pace of the MCL39.
“I think Q1, Q2 not as smooth as my Q3 laps, he admitted to media, including Motorsport Week.
“I was pretty happy with, honestly, I felt pretty good, I felt like I got a lot out of the car today.
“But it just wasn’t enough, so I was disappointed because you just want to be on pole for the final race of the year. But we just didn’t have the pace today, so I felt like I got the maximum out of the car. I have to be happy with that.
“Of course, behind the one person I don’t want to be ahead of, that’s the only reason for the disappointment. But otherwise, I was pretty happy with my laps. It was the maximum we could do.”
Learning from a contrasting Friday and Saturday
Lando Norris delivered an authoritative when it was suggested that his Q1 pace needing a second set of tyres cost him performance in the pole position shootout.
“No, it didn’t”, he retorted.
Commenting on the long run pace of the MCL39, Norris hinted at limited learnings from practice on Friday contributed to losing out to Verstappen.
“Bits”, he said when asked what practice had taught the team.
“I think we weren’t in the best position on Friday. I think we improved on quite a few areas instead.
“And the race pace was normally pretty strong, but like Oscar said, Max’s pace was also very strong.
“So, yeah, I think today when you look at it, we weren’t quite picking up. But of course, we’ll hope we can turn to one another tomorrow.
Given his start-line mistake in Las Vegas after lining up next to Verstappen, Norris was coy when commenting on his strategy for his risk vs hunting on Sunday.
“I’ll decide when I have to,” he admitted.
“I don’t mind either. I’ve been in both positions, I guess. I’ve felt good in both, I’ve performed in both, so I’m not too bothered to be the hunter or the hunted
“Normally, to be the hunted is fine, because you’re normally the one with the advantage in the first place.
“And of course, I would sign for that now, but life’s not that simple, sadly. I’m still going to go into tomorrow and we’re still going to go and plan for how we’re going to win the race
|Whether it’s on pace, or strategy, or whatever it may be. That’s all going to be our plan tomorrow, and that’s how I want to end the season, sitting on top. So, nothing changes from that side.”
“I mean, it’s not something you decide now, honestly. It’s something that you’ll see, and something you decide before the start of the race, and five metres before you brake into turn one.
“I think everyone just wants to get the maximum out of it before the turn.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen storms to F1 Abu Dhabi GP pole position ahead of McLaren duo
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