Lando Norris warns McLaren about Red Bull and Max Verstappen threat after qualifying

Lando Norris made a big impact in Australia by taking pole position at the first Grand Prix of the season! The Briton outpaced his teammate Oscar Piastri to secure the 10th pole of his career and his very first in Melbourne.

After a qualifying session full of twists and turns: « I had my first lap in Q3 canceled for a track limits violation, so I knew it was going to be tough. » This initial setback did not stop the McLaren driver from bouncing back and giving it his all on his second lap. « You have to take a lot of risks, but you also have to ensure you have a clean lap and don’t make mistakes. » The British driver clocked the best time, 0.084s ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri.

With this double in qualifying, McLaren also sets an impressive record: 12 poles in season openers, equaling Ferrari. You have to go back to 2012 to find a McLaren on pole for an opening Grand Prix; at that time, it was Lewis Hamilton. But despite the joy, Norris did not want to get carried away by the euphoria.

A fast McLaren, but delicate to drive

Norris expressed his satisfaction with the car’s performance but highlighted the challenges he faced in achieving this result. He spoke of the difficulty in setting up the car and the constant battle to find the right balance. The car is extremely fast, and when it’s set up correctly, it’s incredible, but it’s difficult to set up.

He added that this led to tense moments during the session, especially when he had to fight with Oscar Piastri for the first place in Q3. « There was a little battle between me and Oscar, and it was tough, especially with my first lap where I went beyond the track limits, » he stated. Norris, despite his incredible ability to adapt quickly, knows that consistency will be key to success throughout the weekend.

After this successful qualification, Lando Norris quickly put things into perspective. While McLaren is in an excellent position, Red Bull’s performance, particularly in rainy conditions, could change everything. “I will never be in the lead, but I am confident that the cars are in an excellent position,” he confides. “So let’s wait and see.”

McLaren faces the Red Bull challenge in the rain

The weather factor could play a decisive role in the race, as Norris well knows. “We know how fast Max is and how Red Bull performs in the rain,” he stated, which suggests a potential Max Verstappen scenario. Rain could disrupt the balance of the teams, but at the same time, it could offer McLaren a chance to capitalize on the pure speed of their car.

The Australian Grand Prix is always a playground where surprises are possible, but Norris has managed to keep a realistic attitude in the face of circumstances. His message remains clear: pole position is an excellent start, but the battle will be won over time, not just with a brilliant qualifying performance.