Norris Calls Vegas Pole Run 'Stressful as Hell' Amid Chaotic Wet Qualifying
Lando Norris secured a chaotic pole position in a rain-drenched Las Vegas, calling the session 'stressful as hell' due to slippery conditions and numerous near-misses. Despite his initial struggles in Q1, the McLaren driver pulled off a dominant lap, three-tenths faster than Max Verstappen. With limited dry-weather data, the race remains unpredictable, but Norris is well-positioned to leverage his momentum in the championship battle.
Lando Norris secured his third consecutive pole position on a rain-soaked Las Vegas Strip, but the McLaren driver admitted the session was "stressful, stressful as hell!" The Briton, arriving with back-to-back wins and a 24-point championship lead over Oscar Piastri, faced a new challenge in the first-ever wet session at the Las Vegas street circuit.
Why it matters:
- Norris's ability to thrive in chaotic, unpredictable conditions highlights his growing maturity and skill, crucial for a championship contender.
- McLaren's performance in the wet, a condition not typically favoring them, suggests a significant step forward in car development and adaptability.
- Securing pole in a challenging session sets up a potentially thrilling race and intensifies the championship battle, keeping the pressure on his rivals.
The Details:
- Norris initially struggled in Q1, placing 13th amidst heavy standing water, but improved as track conditions gradually got better.
- His pole lap of 1m 47.934s was three-tenths faster than Max Verstappen, preventing the reigning champion from securing a front-row start.
- Norris described the session as fraught with near-misses, stating, "As soon as you hit the kerb a little bit wrong like I did, you snap one way, you lose the car the other way, close to hitting the wall."
- He also revealed a surprising pre-qualifying calm, having taken a nap and expecting dry conditions, only to be met with rain, which he admitted made him think, "Oh c***, this is not going to go well!"
- Every corner felt like a potential crash, making the pole position even more rewarding due to the session's difficulty.
What's next:
- Despite the strong qualifying performance, Norris remains cautious about the race, as extensive long-run data is lacking for all teams due to the disrupted Friday sessions.
- Las Vegas has not historically been a strong track for McLaren, adding another layer of uncertainty to race day.
- The dry race conditions are expected to present a different challenge, and with Max Verstappen starting nearby, the race promises to be an "interesting" one, according to Norris.
- The pole position places Norris in the best possible starting position to capitalize on his momentum and further solidify his championship lead, provided McLaren can translate wet-weather pace into dry-race performance.