And suddenly, his biggest nemesis, Max Verstappen, reappears, delivering a magnificent qualifying round in the final minute and denying him pole position. Lando Norris also tips his hat to this performance. “You can only appreciate a lap that good,” he says.
The lead-up had been trouble-free. Fastest in the practices, and also in the first two qualifying sessions. McLaren, through Norris in the MCL39, seemed to be heading for the best starting position once again. But an old acquaintance and his friend prevent him from achieving this. “Still, I’m happy,” admits the Brit. “Congratulations to Max. For a lap that good, you can only appreciate it.”
“I got everything out of the car today. The difference is small, but he drove a great lap. Yet we are right behind him.” Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri starts from the third position. “I drove to the limit, the lap was also good. I think,” Norris suggests, “that I couldn’t have improved that time. Victory remains our goal, we want to surpass Max. We’ve been in this position before: it’s going to be an exciting race.”
