Lando Norris, driver for McLaren, has expressed his frustration after a disappointing qualifying for the F1 United States Grand Prix, where he ultimately achieved eighth place, although he initially had reached sixth position.
On his second lap during Q3, Norris was penalized for exceeding track limits at Turn 19, which cost him his best time, confirming that the previous lap had only allowed him to qualify eighth. This situation culminates a disappointing run for McLaren, which has not achieved a podium in the last three races, due to the superiority of Red Bull, which has surpassed Mercedes and Ferrari.
Despite the weaknesses of his car, the MCL40, especially in straight-line speed and slow corners, Norris believes he could have obtained a better result at this circuit. ‘The car has been very fast today in terms of pace, but really difficult to drive. It has been the most complicated car I have ever driven, and even so, I should have achieved a better position,’ he commented.
The British driver remains upbeat, as he has shown optimism about the potential for a comeback in Sunday’s race, after having excelled in the first qualifying round. ‘We have good potential to score points,’ he added, acknowledging the difference with the pole sitter, Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes, who set a notable time.
Additionally, McLaren has brought a significant update to the car, featuring a new suspension design and an improved diffuser, hoping to regain competitiveness: ‘We are trying to improve at every race, but there is always an aspect where we can get better,’ Norris concluded.
His teammate, Oscar Piastri, also shared his concerns about their competitiveness in this qualifying, making it clear that expectations have not been met.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
