Lando Norris stated qualifying for the F1 Miami Grand Prix dash race was “identical to the previous days” with 4 groups competing for the entrance of the sector.
Ultimately, the McLaren driver, who had gained the primary two periods in 1st and seventh place, took the lead and took pole place.
McLaren launched an enormous improve bundle this weekend, however Norris urged they labored from the off, giving him the boldness his earlier automotive lacked and placing him within the sort of consolation zone he’ll get pleasure from in 2025.
“I really feel superb,” he stated. “In fact, I am very blissful for the group. There are all the time a variety of expectations and a variety of effort has been put into bringing these upgrades. And it is all the time troublesome to foretell or know what’s going to occur in a brand new weekend.”
“However from the primary lap, actually from Flip 1 onwards, the whole lot felt higher. I felt slightly extra assured than final yr, with some confidence within the automotive.”
“And I felt that and I felt like I made probably the most of it all through the day in the present day. It was a superb begin to the weekend. In all probability higher than we anticipated, actually. We have been anticipating higher, in fact, however we did not know what it was going to be when it comes to quantity. So it’s kind of of a shock, however definitely good.”
Norris admitted he was optimistic earlier than qualifying however knew the competitors between the highest 4 groups was shut.
“Truthfully, by the top of FP1 it was shut between lots of people,” he stated. “Purple Bull regarded quick, Ferrari regarded quick, Mercedes regarded quick.
“So, in a means, it appeared like a very long time in the past when there have been 4 groups and you may be on any of them.
“However we appear to be slowly making progress in the direction of qualifying. I used to be feeling assured, particularly in Q1, nevertheless it was shut and I wasn’t in first place, so I felt good confidence and knew that if I put the final lap collectively effectively I may stand up there.”
“However I used to be slightly stunned that there was nonetheless a spot. So there are a variety of good issues, a variety of positives. I am very blissful for the group. Like I stated, I am blissful to have the ability to give them one thing so rapidly.”
“So it is only a dash qualification, so in a means there’s not a lot to be pleased with. But it surely’s nonetheless an extended weekend for us.”
Forward of Saturday’s dash and important race qualifying, he stated: “We’ll see. It is arduous to know what everybody’s going to do in the case of lengthy runs and the whole lot else. So like I stated, it is nonetheless an extended weekend and quite a bit can occur, however we began as anticipated so there’s a variety of positives.”
“And if you happen to’re this quick in qualifying, you’d usually anticipate it to final for a future. There’s a variety of unknowns. It is nonetheless a brand new automotive for us, so we’re nonetheless studying as we go.”
“We’re nonetheless attempting to make the most of issues and I am certain we will make some enhancements for tomorrow’s qualifying, however for now I am blissful.”
