McLaren failed to secure a pole position that seemed within reach, with Piastri and Norris finishing second and third.
Sprint Qualifying once again proves tricky for McLaren, which, just like in China, couldn’t grab pole position. However, the two Papaya cars are right behind Kimi Antonelli, with Piastri just 0.045 seconds off the Italian driver, while Lando Norris is third, a tenth behind the front. Both drivers remained calm despite missing out on pole, a sign that the car is expected to be very competitive in today’s sprint.
These were the statements from the two McLaren drivers, starting with Piastri: “I’m quite satisfied with this result. It definitely wasn’t my best lap – I locked up at the final corner, and I think that’s where I lost the chance to take pole. But congratulations to Kimi on his first Formula 1 pole position. Second place is still a good result, and I think we’ve got a bit more pace to unlock. I’m positive and confident I can gain a position tomorrow.”
Norris also expressed satisfaction: “It was a decent result in a very tight Sprint Qualifying session. We were just narrowly beaten by Mercedes, so congrats to Kimi on his first pole. We probably could have achieved a bit more, but overall, I’m happy with third place and looking forward to racing tomorrow.”
Photo: X McLaren F1 Team
