Lando Norris revealed that making too many mistakes during his final qualifying lap at the Spanish Grand Prix prevented him from securing pole position, which was instead taken by his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris had initially set the fastest time in Q3 before Piastri edged him out by 0.209 seconds on the last run at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Errors on Critical Sections Halt Norris’s Final Lap
After his first Q3 attempts, Norris led the session ahead of Piastri by 0.017 seconds. However, on his ultimate flying lap, he made errors that compromised his pace, allowing Piastri to claim pole with a 1m11.546s. Norris acknowledged that mistakes in Turn 1 and the exit of Turn 4 contributed to a lap that was not as clean as he needed it to be.
Just a couple little mistakes. Turn 1 – which is kind of the first place you don’t want to make a mistake, just because it harms the rest of the lap with the tyres and things,
Norris said.
So just a couple of little squiggles there and the exit of Turn 4 as well.
He admitted that the lap was far from perfect despite showing an improvement in pace, pointing out that the car’s speed was more than sufficient but his execution was lacking.
So just not a perfect lap, not the cleanest lap, but still improved, surprisingly. The pace was easily there. Just a couple too many mistakes.
Challenges Managing Tyres in Hot Conditions Affect Qualifying
Norris reflected on how difficult conditions in qualifying, particularly the heat, make conserving tyres for a single flying lap and the race ahead a significant challenge. He and Piastri both noticed this struggle, highlighting the demanding nature of tyre management at Barcelona.
We’ve been good in all conditions so far. It’s obviously very hot. So, like Oscar said, just a bit of a struggle for everyone. It’s a struggle in quali to look after the tyres for one lap, so the race is then much trickier.
Despite narrowly missing pole, Norris was reassured by the car’s performance throughout the weekend.
But the car has been good the whole weekend, as you’ve shown today. So yeah, that’s always reassuring before Sunday.
Progress Shown Despite Disappointment at Spanish GP Qualifying
Last weekend at the Monaco Grand Prix, Norris had secured pole and went on to win, marking a major milestone. Building on that momentum, he shared insights on how he has been working to improve the McLaren’s qualifying speed, though admitted there was room for refinement in Spain.
Even though he lost out on pole, Norris stayed optimistic, recognizing the ongoing progress.
The speed was easily there today. And sometimes you just don’t put the laps in. Today was good,
he said.
I think I was a little bit behind at the start of qualifying and I caught up nicely. I know where I lost that time on the final lap. It was just trying a little bit too much and just not being quite tidy enough – especially around a lap like Barcelona.
He explained that an oversteer in Turn 1 set off a chain of difficulties affecting the remainder of the lap, but overall, he remained content with his positioning.
I still feel fine. I’m happy with second, especially in Barcelona – it’s not the end of the world. So, a positive weekend.
Strong Team Performance Sets Up Anticipation for the Race
With McLaren locking out the front row, the Spanish Grand Prix promises to be a key moment in the championship battle, particularly between Norris and Piastri, who are closely matched in performance and standings. Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing remain among the main rivals in the field, adding further intensity to the race weekend.
The strong showing in qualifying underscores McLaren’s competitiveness and sets high expectations for Sunday’s Grand Prix at Barcelona.
