Qualifying for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas has just concluded, bringing excitement and unpredictability to the Texan track. Max Verstappen secured pole position ahead of Lando Norris, who stepped out of his car visibly satisfied but also reflective about a challenging day that followed a difficult Sprint race and a tough qualifying session.
Lando Norris’ comments after COTA qualifying
“I improved by half a tenth. It was very difficult today, and we don’t really know why,” Norris said after the session. “Yesterday I felt much more comfortable. I don’t know if the others improved or if it was the wind that hurt us. But yes, both Oscar (Piastri) and I struggled a lot to put together a quick lap like Red Bull did. Still, I’m happy with second place — the possibility of taking pole wasn’t really there today.”
When asked about the race start, Norris focused on the challenge ahead. “I just need to look forward. My goal is to attack Max, fight with him, and have a good race like we’ve done in the past,” he added.
A promising position for the title fight
Despite the difficulties, Lando Norris can be satisfied with his performance. Seeing where his teammate finished, the Briton has managed to stay firmly in contention in the World Championship battle. Starting from the front row alongside Max Verstappen, Lando Norris will have a real chance to challenge for victory on Sunday.
However, he will also need to be cautious. Turn 1 at Austin is notoriously chaotic, and his past experiences starting alongside the Dutch driver have not always been positive. Nevertheless, Norris’ P2 result reinforces his consistency and shows that McLaren remains capable of taking the fight to Red Bull when conditions allow.
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