Lando Norris has taken responsibility for his performance, admitting to "making too many mistakes" after qualifying sixth for the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix. Norris had shown promising speed throughout the practice session, clocking the fastest time by nearly half a second. However, during the Sprint Qualifying, he struggled to maintain his pace.
After a lackluster SQ3 lap, Norris was overtaken by rivals Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell. He expressed frustration, stating, "I made a mistake. I locked up in the last corner. We just struggled a bit more now, just not quick enough, simply." The McLaren driver was coming off a victory at the Australian Grand Prix but felt the car’s handling issues became evident during the qualifying rounds.
Despite sharing the honor of joint-most pole positions this season, Norris acknowledged that minor errors have hindered both him and the team from securing race wins, particularly with competitors like Verstappen always in the mix. "I struggled a lot with the car. Just our difficulties that we’ve been struggling with showed a lot more today," he added.
Norris further elaborated on the challenges he faced, particularly with front locking during turns and the impact of tailwinds on grip levels. He reflected on how this round resembled previous experiences in Bahrain, where wind conditions also posed difficulties.
In contrast, his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who qualified third, is optimistic about the team’s performance in the Sprint. Piastri acknowledged that the team needed to rethink their approach during the qualifying rounds but remains confident that they can compete effectively in the race.
The Sprint, set for 3am UK time, will consist of 19 laps and will not require mandatory pit stops, allowing teams to choose tires freely. Key points will be awarded to the top eight finishers.
Reigning champion Verstappen commented on the surprising pace of McLaren, expressing the challenge of staying ahead. "They looked very fast up until that last run, so it will be hard to keep them behind," he said.
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ George Russell qualified fifth, acknowledging the unpredictability among the top teams and expressing hope for a competitive Sprint.
As the Chinese Grand Prix marks the first Sprint weekend of the season, McLaren aims to address their qualifying issues and capitalize on their potential during the race.
Race Weekend Schedule for the Chinese Grand Prix:
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Saturday March 22
- 2:25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up
- 3am: Chinese GP Sprint
- 5:45am: F1 Academy Race 1
- 6:35am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up
- 7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING
- 9am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
- Sunday March 23
- 2:40am: F1 Academy Race 2
- 5:30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX
- 9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered flag
- 10am: Ted’s Notebook
As the excitement builds for the first Sprint weekend in Shanghai, fans eagerly await what promises to be a thrilling race.
