Lando Norris Finds His Groove: Dominant Pole in Austria and Renewed Confidence

McLaren driver Lando Norris expressed significant reassurance after qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix, describing his pole position performance as a return of the “old me.”

Following a period of less consistent qualifying results, Norris secured pole position by a remarkable margin of over half a second ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri. This dominant performance occurred on one of the shortest circuits in F1, making the gap the largest of the season so far.

A visibly thrilled Norris radioed his team after claiming his third pole position of the year, saying: “Nice to see the old me back every now and then, huh!”

Despite retiring in the previous race in Canada after contact with his teammate Piastri, Norris is now perfectly placed to close the 22-point gap in the Drivers` Championship.

He conveyed his satisfaction, stating that he had missed the feeling of being truly connected with the car and understanding how to extract maximum grip. He added that this feeling translated directly into improved performance and lap time, calling it the best possible sensation for a driver when they can push limits and execute successfully.

McLaren introduced a revised floor for the Austrian weekend, which appears to be beneficial for Norris, who had previously mentioned feeling more comfortable in last season`s car. He credited the team`s intense efforts, including extensive simulator work, to understand the car`s dynamics. He noted that moving in the right direction this weekend is highly positive and reassuring for both himself and the team, expressing gratitude for their work.

Stella Praises Norris`s Performance

Entering Austria, Norris had an average improvement from Q2 to Q3 that lagged behind competitors like Piastri, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell. He admitted to overdriving in previous qualifying sessions in Bahrain, Spain, and Canada. However, in Austria, he delivered a composed and fast lap, earning praise from team principal Andrea Stella, who was “really proud.”

Stella highlighted that even in Canada, the raw speed was there; Norris was on track for pole before a minor contact and was one of the fastest in the race. He stated that the potential was always present, but they needed to refine the execution, which small adjustments helped facilitate. Stella emphasized that the Austrian pole was not just a pole, but a dominant one with a remarkable lap time.

Stella acknowledged that it was unfortunate Piastri couldn`t challenge for pole due to a yellow flag on his final attempt, which also affected Max Verstappen. He praised the team`s ability to recover from their challenging weekend in Canada, emphasizing McLaren`s strong culture of turning difficult situations into opportunities for growth and unity. Stella also commended the team for the successful upgrades, which have made the car faster and provided promising data, urging them to capitalize on this momentum in the race.

Piastri Aiming Higher Than Third

Oscar Piastri believed he could have joined Norris on the front row if his final Q3 lap hadn`t been interrupted by Pierre Gasly`s spin causing yellow flags. Piastri is determined to challenge Charles Leclerc early in the race and hopes to contend with Norris for the win on the track, which offers several overtaking opportunities.

Piastri commented that McLaren`s pace looked very strong throughout the weekend, also noting Ferrari`s unexpected speed, but reiterated that opportunities are still available. He stated definitively, “I`m not planning on finishing third, that`s for sure.”

McLaren`s race pace in practice was matched only by Verstappen this weekend, but with the Red Bull driver starting from seventh, he is less likely to be an immediate threat at the front. Norris feels confident starting from pole, having felt competitive and comfortable in the car since Friday`s practice session.

Norris pointed to the significance of the upgrades introduced this weekend – the first comprehensive package of the season. He feels the team waited appropriately to implement them, and based on the qualifying performance, they have clearly moved in the right direction, especially on a circuit with only eight corners. He remains confident for the race but acknowledged that it is a long event where many variables can come into play.