Lando Norris mentioned he felt like he was hanging onto his automobile throughout a Dash qualifying lap on the high-speed Lusail circuit forward of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Lusail’s quick corners and flat curbs enable drivers to push their automobiles near their limits, whereas additionally offering a bodily check for themselves behind the wheel. Norris secured pole place for Saturday’s Dash along with his first flying lap of SQ3 and admits he couldn’t execute a clear try on his second run.
“It’s robust, as a result of it’s so fast round right here,” Norris mentioned. “It feels just like the quickest circuit of the 12 months. I imply, the ultimate sector simply feels such as you’re hanging on. It was a good lap, I made too many errors on my second. However we had been coming right here to get pole, and we did that, so job accomplished for at this time.”
Norris says the circumstances contributed to the errors on his closing try, with wind gusts destabilizing automobiles as a consequence of their unpredictability.
“The wind performs a giant half, however the circumstances are additionally loads higher than final season,” he mentioned. “It makes it loads more durable bodily, however it additionally makes it a lot faster to drive. I believe many of the automobiles are near being flat in many of the corners within the closing sector, which is sort of an accomplishment.
“It felt fast — and when it feels fast, it have to be very quick. It’s a problem to place a lap collectively, particularly when the tires don’t really feel in for the start, and thru the lap you achieve confidence. That’s been the problem of at this time, however it’s paid off. We made some good enhancements into qualifying and I used to be pleased with it.”
With teammate Oscar Piastri ranging from third place behind George Russell, McLaren is focusing on most factors on Saturday because it seems to try to wrap up the constructors’ championship.
“Our goal is one-two. We all know it’ll be a battle,” Norris mentioned. “Mercedes shall be fast, Ferrari shall be quick, so not anticipating a straightforward one. In all probability anticipating an thrilling one for everybody watching, so trying ahead to it tomorrow.”