When the dust settled after qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix, Lando Norris found himself in P2, just behind Max Verstappen.
Despite missing out on pole position, the McLaren driver noted he was rather “happy” with both his performance in qualifying, and the MCL39 itself.
“Yeah, I’m happy. Congrats to Max, he did a good job. So hats off—you’ve got to credit something when it’s a lap that good, which he must have done, you know,” said Norris trackside to Naomi Schiff.
“But I mean, I’m happy because I feel like I got everything out of the car today. So, just, it’s tiny. Was there probably that much in it? Yes. But Max did an amazing lap, so we’re happy,” added Norris. “I mean, for both of us [Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri, who qualified third] to be up there, for us to be fighting for pole is good. But it’s not enough.”
Norris elaborated moments later in the FIA Press Conference, outlining how he was not only happy with the result but also happy with where the car is.
Happier than he was in Shanghai, where he finished second in the Chinese Grand Prix behind Piastri.
“Much happier than China,” started Norris. “Yeah, the car’s a lot more back to my liking.
“I’ve got some front end in the car and I’m much, much happier with that. I’ve been feeling confident all weekend. If quali was in FP1 and it was a Sprint race, I feel like I’d be much further ahead, but everyone’s good enough that by the time you get to quali, they kind of catch up a bit,” continued Norris.
The McLaren driver noted how the team has been “chipping away” at improving the car over the time in Suzuka. But he also pointed out that he started the week on the front foot.
“I’ve been feeling good, the car’s been feeling good from the off as well. We’ve been chipping away. I think between both of us we’ve been quickest in every session bar this one, so it’s the little frustrating one. The corners I still struggle with, the corners I’m still not happy with, are the corners I still just don’t have the front end and I don’t have the grip in the car when I need it from the front.
“It’s clear what suits me and what doesn’t, or just what allows me to be quick and what doesn’t. China was one of those weaker tracks, and we come here and the car’s a lot more how I want it. Much better again.”
As for whether Norris can get by Verstappen on Sunday that might come down to, well, the weather.
“No one knows what the weather is going to be like tomorrow, so no point trying to think of too many things,” began Norris when asked about his prospects in the race itself.
“We’ll do our homework tonight. It’s probably going to be a bit of a race like Melbourne, and that was an exciting race for everyone,” added Norris. “Now I’ve got to try and do some overtakes, you know? So we’ll see. It’s exciting. I think the unknown of the weather is going to make it exciting and nerve-racking for everyone.
He then concluded with a nod to Verstappen.
“And I’ve got to try to get past the guy on my left, so yeah, excited.”
