Norris thrilled after ‘pretty much a perfect lap’ bags second career F1 pole

Lando Norris expressed his satisfaction at the lap that usurped Max Verstappen and delivered the second pole position of his Formula 1 career during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen led the way after the opening Q3 runs around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, only for Norris to charge to the top of the timesheets by two hundredths of a second with an effort of 1m 11.383s.

READ MORE: Norris beats Verstappen to pole in thrilling Spanish GP qualifying session

It means Norris will lead the field away at the start of a Grand Prix for the first time since F1’s visit to the Sochi Autodrom back in 2021.

“It was pretty much a perfect lap,” said Norris after qualifying. “You know when you’re on a good lap when you’re getting excited, but the whole thing went perfectly in the end.

“So close, still, but super, super happy, one of… I think my best pole position. I’ve not had many, but out of the ones I’ve had, [this is] the best. We’ve been close all weekend, but really this was just about a perfect lap, and that’s what I did today.”

AS IT HAPPENED: All the action from qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix

Pushed on the pace he and McLaren have displayed over the last couple of days, Norris continued: “It’s not just this weekend, we’ve been quick the last two months, since Miami we’ve been very strong. We probably missed out on a pole by just not doing a perfect lap, and today was the perfect lap.

“I would say Max and Red Bull seemed a little bit stronger all weekend than what we did, but we made some changes for the final run, I had some little places to improve and I did exactly that, so I’m super happy to be on pole.”

Now Norris’ attention will turn to Sunday’s 66-lap Grand Prix and converting pole into victory, with not only Verstappen for company at the front of the grid, but seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

“That’s our target, but I know it’s going to be tough against Max, against Lewis, and everyone behind, but we’re here to win now, so that’s my plan,” he stated.

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It was not such a smooth session for the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who wound up 10th in Q3 after a deleted lap time for track limits and an excursion at Turn 12, though he will gain a spot on the grid thanks to Sergio Perez’s three-place penalty.