Lando Norris acknowledged that a critical error during the Baku qualifying session cost him a better starting position after McLaren decided to send him out first for his final flying lap in Q3. The intense qualifying round on the Baku City Circuit featured six red flags, and Norris’s decision to be the first driver on track ultimately backfired amid changing weather conditions.
During the eventful session, it was evident that the driver who could master the track on the final lap, despite rain beginning to fall, would achieve a competitive position. Norris and the McLaren team opted to start first on the drying but spitting surface, hoping to avoid potential interruptions and traffic. This strategy aimed to minimize risk but exposed Norris to worsening conditions as the track improved for drivers who followed.
In hindsight, Norris’s lap did not meet expectations, and no further stoppages occurred to benefit an early run. He ended up qualifying seventh, with teammate Oscar Piastri in ninth, for the Sunday race. Reflecting on the outcome in a Sky Sports interview, Norris expressed regret over the choice, saying,
“I think it was mistake from my side, from our side, to go out the pit lane first. It couldn’t have been – if there was a yellow flag further back or a red, we would have looked like the heroes and everyone else would have looked like losers. Now I kind of look like the loser and them heroes, but it’s the price you pay sometimes around here and the risks you’ve got to take.” – Lando Norris, McLaren Driver
He further noted the difficulty presented by track conditions, adding,
“But it was still spitting a little bit, so I think anyone who was further back, just more grip. Just a decision that didn’t work out in the end. Something we’ll review and try to do better next time.” – Lando Norris, McLaren Driver
Explanation from McLaren Team Principal on Strategy
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, clarified the rationale behind sending Norris out early amid the session’s frequent interruptions. The priority was to complete a clean lap given the high risk of yellow or red flags that could halt runs and prevent drivers from setting times. Speaking to Sky Sports, Stella remarked,
“There was a bit of pressure with time, there’s a pressure with yellow flags. So, I think in our condition, it was important to put a lap together. Ultimately, the lap didn’t come as good as we wanted.” – Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Stella also highlighted the strategic benefits of being first on track,
“But being first gives you the safety from a yellow flag point of view, you can control the warm up of the tyres on the out-lap. We thought that was alright from that point of view, it was just more a matter of executing the lap.” – Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
With Norris starting seventh, McLaren will look to improve race pace, while Piastri’s ninth place provides a solid platform for both drivers on race day.
Impact of the Decision on Race Prospects and Team Outlook
The decision to run first in such a volatile qualifying session has left Norris and McLaren reflecting deeply on risk versus reward amid the high stakes of Formula 1 qualifying. The track conditions in Baku, complicated by intermittent rain and multiple red flags, forced teams into difficult strategic calls. For Norris, taking the gamble meant settling for a less favorable grid slot than hoped.
Despite the setback, the team remains confident that lessons from this pressured scenario will help refine future tactics. Both Norris and Piastri face the challenge of gaining positions in a difficult street circuit race, where overtaking opportunities are limited but strategic decisions on tyre management and timing pit stops will prove pivotal.
For Norris personally, the admission of error underscores the competitive and unpredictable nature of F1 qualifying, where split-second choices can dramatically alter outcomes. The McLaren duo’s qualifying results in Baku highlight the fine margins teams manage under high tension and the constant effort to balance aggression with caution.
