Lando Norris, a leading contender for the Formula One title, acknowledged the challenge ahead as he prepares to start the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from 10th place.
During qualifying in Jeddah, Norris lost control at Turn Four, causing his McLaren to spin into the wall at Turn Five. This mishap led him to express frustration over the team radio, calling himself an idiot.
Norris’s position on the grid has impacted his chances of maintaining his lead in the drivers’ standings. He currently holds a slim five-point advantage over Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen will begin from pole position, with Piastri close behind. “It’s almost impossible to overtake around here, so I’m not expecting anything magical,” Norris stated. Despite having a strong car, he admitted it wasn’t performing as well as hoped.
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The accident saw Norris drop down the grid, complicating his efforts to stay at the top of the standings by weekend’s end. He remarked on his situation: “[I’ve got] a big job to try and do. If we can work our way up to the top five or six, I will say I’ll be happy.” He expressed disappointment about not being able to compete for pole position.
Oscar Piastri narrowly missed securing his third pole of the season but remains competitive after wins in Shanghai and Bahrain. Reflecting on his performance, Piastri said, “There wasn’t much more left in it, so happy with the lap I did.” He acknowledged Max Verstappen’s strong performance at high-speed circuits like this one.
Norris admitted that he made mistakes during qualifying that cost him a better starting position. “I should be fighting for pole and, especially on a Q1 lap, not taking any silly risks like I seem to have done,” he said. He felt comfortable until his error and regretted letting himself and his team down.
Piastri highlighted the difficulty of regaining rhythm once it’s lost on this challenging track. He noted that despite its challenges, racing under lights with soft tyres provides high grip and makes it one of their favourite circuits.
Norris is determined to recover from this setback and hopes to finish within the top positions during Sunday’s race. His focus remains on making up ground despite starting further back than anticipated.