Lando Norris secured a sensational pole position in F1 Belgian GP qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps after a standout performance in Q3 that the rest of the field could not match.
Following a 0.6s deficit to Oscar Piastri in SQ3 on Friday, Norris looked far more competitive on Saturday. He did enough to get the pole despite not improving on his second Q3 attempt.
“Obviously, good enough for pole,” Norris said during the press conference. “I felt like my second one, I improved, just the lap time didn’t. So maybe a little bit more out there, but I think [it was a] nice improvement from yesterday… The car’s been feeling great all weekend, so it’s nice to have a one-two.”
Reflecting on the lap, Norris admitted that minor errors cost him crucial time.
“Maybe Turn 1, I hit the kerb a little bit, and it’s a long run after there, so I probably lost a little bit. And the last corner, a bit too much the kerb in both of them, and I probably lost, I mean, we’re talking a half a tenth, touch more, and I do slower. We’re talking small margins.”
Chasing perfection in F1 Belgian GP qualifying
Norris described the challenge of piecing together a lap at Spa, a track known for its high-speed corners and elevation changes. “You have Turn 9, 5-6-7, you have Pouhon, 12-13, all corners which are pretty damn quick. You try to get that balance perfect with the car, getting the lifts right. A lot of it’s about timing and just getting things nailed,” he explained.
Having raced at Spa since his Formula 4 days, Norris called it “a fun track in any car… but in Formula 1, it’s good fun. It always puts a smile on your face during qualifying, especially when you can be on top.”
Rain threat for Sunday’s race
Looking ahead to the Grand Prix, Norris expects Spa’s famously unpredictable weather to play a big role.
“It’s probably going to rain… It’s Spa, so high chance of rain, but that can also mean it just sometimes hits half the track and the other half stays dry. Could be in for a Silverstone-esque chaotic race,” he predicted.
Confident in McLaren’s pace come rain or shine, Norris added: “I think we have the best car, so that’s the most important thing.”
