Lando Norris's qualifying in Mexico is disappointing. He only managed a third place behind Sainz and Verstappen. Yet, despite everything, the English driver still seems satisfied. At the start, he will be able to take advantage of the slipstream of Ferrari and Red Bull at the start.
Norris third: but the Mexican GP is a story yet to be written
Last year, the equation Verstappen plus Red Bull, equals guaranteed victory, seemed easy. In short, it was taken for granted that driving the best car on the grid to success was a very obvious habit. Today, however, this is no longer the case. With due distances, to counterbalance these insinuations there is the 2024 season of Lando Norris with his McLaren. The papaya-colored car is probably the best on the grid, as it is able to adapt to any context proposed by the numerous tracks of the now very busy calendar. Naturally, as mentioned, it is a comparison that must be made taking into account the due differences. McLaren, despite being very competitive, is certainly not the dominant car that Red Bull was last year. The fact remains, however, that the English team continues to be unable to capitalize on the potential it has managed to build over the last few years.
While on the one hand the unfulfilled predictions are to be blamed on the team, which often made wrong strategic choices during the season, on the other hand it is the drivers who have repeatedly disappointed. qualification is an example of this today. Piastri was eliminated in Q1 and will start seventeenth tomorrow. Norris, on the other hand, was unable to put together the perfect lap, despite two attempts during Q3. And yet, especially in Q2 and in the final session of free tests, McLaren seemed to be superior to Ferrari and Red Bull on the flying lap, as it was in Austin. The orange team, consequently, can only think about the race, which however, at least for Norris, does not seem to have been completely compromised. Starting well will be fundamental, even if the Englishman seems to have established an idiosyncratic relationship with the starts. This time, however, it is different. Starting third could prove to be an advantage, as it would allow the number four McLaren to be able to let himself be carried along in the slipstream of Sainz or Verstappen and attempt a double attack at Turn 1, perhaps getting revenge on the Dutchman for what happened last week in Austin.
Norris on his Q3: “I struggled in the last two laps”
In short, the story of the Mexican GP is still being written. What remains, however, is the contrast between what Lando Norris achieved in qualifying and his mood in the usual post-session interviews. The English driver appeared at the microphones quite calm, suggesting that, all things considered, the McLaren was not really the best performing car on the track today.I'm pretty happy honestly. I think I got to the limit of the car pretty quickly, which made us look stronger than we were. I struggled a bit in the last two laps. Max and Carlos did a great job, especially the latter was fast all weekend, so I'm happy with third place".
Who knows, however, if, as he himself admitted, Norris had not “struggled” in the last two attempts made during Q3. It remains difficult to understand what will happen in the race, especially from the point of view of race pace. In the statements released, however, the English driver did not let slip any anticipation on the real potential of his McLaren in the race.It's hard to say what will happen tomorrow. It's not like we did any real race simulations on the tires. Ferrari have been very strong both in qualifying and in the race lately. It will be tough but we are in a good position".
