F1 News
Lando Norris on pole position: "I don't know what to say"
Lando Norris has achieved his first pole position in his Formula 1 career. The British driver and McLaren played the testing conditions perfectly and benefited from a crucial mistake by Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time World Champion hit the wall on his way to the pitbox.
This pole position for McLaren comes just one race after Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix. The team from Woking are riding a positive wave.
"Coming off of Monza, this wasn't something we expected. But these conditions open up opportunities and we took it," Norris said in the interviews after.
Changing to slicks
Q1 and Q2 were completed with intermediate tyres, but a dry line emerged for Q3. The change to slicks became a tough decision to make, but teams rolled the dice and it paid off for McLaren, Ferrari and Williams.
"It feels amazing. I don't know what to say, a manic session. We made the decision to go to slicks, I don't think I was going to get a pole until I get it, now I've managed to do it. Extremely happy and well done to the team," Norris said.
"It was tough, I wasn't going to make myself sound good. It's tricky. I wasn't very confident but kept the tyres warm. I risked a bit but it paid off. I am a happy boy. I am not looking forward to being first to turn one tomorrow. You never know, we're in the best position we're going to be in. It's my first pole position, hopefully the first of many."