Close exchange of blows around the poles between the two McLaren pilots in Suzuka: First the best time in Q3 Oscar Piatri, then Lando Norris counters – but in the end Max Verstappen is the laughing third.
The world champion pushes himself in the Red Bull for twelve thousandths in front of Norris, and Piatri also lacks third place in the end.
“Hats off Verstappen, because he really conjured up an impressive round, especially if you see his performance until the last attempt in Q3,” even McLaren team boss Andrea Stella only left praise for the unexpected opponent after qualifying: “He is four times world champion, and for good reason – so respect for him.”
Despite the tight defeat, Stella locates “a good starting position for tomorrow’s race” and finds: “For us it was a very positive qualification overall, we were definitely in the fight for the poles.”
The extremely narrow distances at the top show for the Italian “that we are very competitive. And I am sure that Lando and Oscar have left a few milliseconds here and there.”
Norris strikes back: “Much more satisfied than in China”
Norris also confirms after getting out that he had a little more in the quiver: “I was only two tenths faster in Q3 than in my Q2 round, so not enough,” explains the World Cup leader with a view to its moderate increase on the last run-but the pressure on Norris was already great, because: “In the first attempt of Q3, I didn’t have to work more. Run back a little. “
Although it is ultimately not enough, the McLaren pilot is “really satisfied with the feeling of balances and the car in the end”. The bottom line was that only “little things” made the difference, although Norris admits: “The distance was so low – I think only a hundredth – you ask yourself whether it would not have been enough. But today it wasn’t enough for the pole.” With his final round, he was basically “quite satisfied”.
The same applies to his McLaren: “[Ich bin] Much more satisfied than in China, definitely. “Shanghai was recently” a more difficult plaster “for Norris:” The car is much more for me here. I have grip on the front axle again, I really like that, “reports the Brit.
Only in the curves when he lacks the grip at the front, he still has to fight: “So it is very clear what I like and what doesn’t, what makes me quickly and what doesn’t.” That is why it is now much better for him in Japan.
“I was confident all weekend.
However, the competition would have caught up until qualifying: “The level is just high. Nevertheless: I felt good, the car felt strong from the first moment and we continued to progress continuously.”
Piatri: “In some places a bit next to the lane”
Alone: ”I think that in every session – apart from this – one of us was at the forefront, maybe the only frustrating one,” explains Norris with a view to the lost McLaren poles. Team colleague Oscar Piatri also struggles after qualifying, he burns the best time in sector in the asphalt on his fastest round: “But the first sector was not my best, I think I have left some time compared to my first Q3 round,” the Australian is annoyed.
“If the distance between one and four hundredths is, then of course you think about it,” admits the Shanghai winner despite a mostly satisfactory qualifying: “My first round in Q3 was good, but in the second I was a bit next to the trail,” said Piatri, who suggests: “I had to work a little more into the car this weekend, it just has a little longer, it just has a little longer, it just has a little longer took. “
The question of the outlook for Sunday remains, because overtaking is traditionally not so easy in Suzuka: “First of all, let’s see what the weather is doing. The plan is of course, two places are clear, that is clear – but we also have to wait and see what awaits us tomorrow,” says Piatri.
Norris also explains: “I think nobody really knows how the weather will be tomorrow. Probably it will be a race like in Melbourne – and that was pretty exciting for everyone.”
At the start in Albert Park, Norris was able to win in changeable conditions and end up in the end, but on Sunday he has to come past the Dutch.
Team boss Andrea Stella is still positive: “We have already proven in Australia that we are very competitive even under wet conditions,” says the Italian: “So it is about being ready and taking the chances that will offer tomorrow.” Then the third McLaren victory could win in the third season race …