Lando Norris took responsibility for his sixth-place qualifying in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, saying he made `too many mistakes`.
Norris had shown strong pace earlier, leading practice and SQ2.
However, in SQ3, he was slower than his teammate Oscar Piastri on his first lap and then made a mistake at the hairpin on his final attempt. This allowed Lewis Hamilton to take pole position, followed by Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell, pushing Norris down the order.
`I made a mistake, locking up in the last corner. We weren`t quick enough in general,` Norris explained.
`I struggled with the car`s handling. The issues we`ve been facing were more evident today. It`s down to too many errors and a car that was challenging to drive.`
Despite securing several pole positions in 2024, Norris and McLaren have often been hindered by minor errors, costing them potential race wins. This is an area McLaren is focusing on improving, especially with Verstappen consistently capitalizing on any opportunities.
Norris stated that his disappointing qualifying was `more on me than the car` due to `trying to push too hard`.
He mentioned struggling with front-locking and the car`s behavior in the wind, similar to issues experienced in Bahrain. He felt both he and Piastri struggled, but Norris more so, as he pushed harder to compensate for a lack of outright speed.
Piastri Optimistic About McLaren`s Race Pace
McLaren`s performance on heavier fuel loads has been strong in testing and in Melbourne. Mercedes and Red Bull have noted McLaren`s advantage in tire wear.
The Sprint race in Shanghai is 19 laps, and tire degradation is expected to be significant due to the track`s corners.
Piastri, who qualified third, believes McLaren`s Sprint Qualifying strategy was not optimal but remains confident in their race pace for the shorter race.
F1 Sprint in Shanghai
- 19 laps
- No mandatory pit stops
- Free tyre choice
- Points for top eight: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
`We were fast at the wrong times. SQ1 and SQ2 felt good, but in SQ3, we tried a different approach, going out earlier and attempting two laps. I`m not sure it was the best decision,` Piastri said.
`However, the car`s pace is still strong, and I`m confident we can compete at the front.`
Verstappen Anticipates Challenge from McLaren
Reigning champion Max Verstappen, who qualified second, expressed surprise at Hamilton`s pole and acknowledged the close gap.
Verstappen admitted the car`s balance wasn`t significantly off but they lacked outright pace.
`This is positive for us, a motivation to keep pushing and maximize our performance, especially when we are not the fastest,` Verstappen stated.
Regarding McLaren`s potential in the Sprint, he added, `They looked very quick before the final runs, so it will be difficult to hold them back. Hopefully, it will be an enjoyable race.`
Verstappen`s teammate Liam Lawson qualified last after a mistake in SQ1, going off track and struggling with tire temperatures.
Russell Surprised by McLaren`s Qualifying
Mercedes` George Russell qualified fifth, while Lewis Hamilton secured pole. Russell was pleased with his SQ3 lap and praised Hamilton`s performance.
`P5 was likely our potential today. McLaren`s performance was a bit surprising because they were very fast in practice and earlier qualifying sessions. But in the end, Lewis and Max performed well,` Russell commented.
`We are close behind. We have a chance in the Sprint, and it could be an interesting race.`
