Lando Norris secured third place in the Qatar Sprint Race, the same position from which he started following qualifying. Although he lost two points to Oscar Piastri, the British driver still has a chance to fight for the championship this Sunday, ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
With qualifying scheduled for tonight at 19:00 Central European Time, Lando Norris’ goal is to maximize his performance and keep both Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen behind him, even if he cannot claim pole position.
Norris’ post-race reflections
In the post-Sprint interview, when Jolyon Palmer asked how he handled the race despite Max Verstappen being behind, Lando Norris replied: “I actually never saw him. I was just focused on George in front and trying to catch him. We were quite close at the start, but overall it went well. I didn’t pay attention to what was happening behind me. It felt like a really long stint; we pushed as hard as possible. Tomorrow will be a long race. Overtaking here is not easy, actually it’s really difficult, so qualifying will determine everything.”
Confidence ahead of qualifying
When asked if he felt confident heading into qualifying despite a not-perfect lap on the soft tires during Sprint Qualifying, Norris answered: “Yes. George was almost on pole yesterday, so he showed that the Mercedes is very strong. We will be close, and it won’t be easy, but the team has given us a great car, as always this year. We are very close, but here you need an incredible lap. I can’t wait.”
If Lando Norris can convert that confidence into pole position tonight and then control Sunday’s Grand Prix from the front, the drivers’ championship could be wrapped up under the Lusail floodlights, 24 hours earlier than anyone expected.
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