Lando Norris secured a dominant pole position for the F1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, responding emphatically to critics who doubted his pace. Despite a disappointing sprint qualifying session earlier in the weekend, the British driver bounced back to claim his first pole in Belgium, asserting his readiness for Sunday’s race.
Norris Overcomes Sprint Qualifying Struggles to Secure Pole
Although Norris trailed his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by nearly six-tenths of a second in sprint qualifying, he delivered a standout performance during the main qualifying session. Norris described his pole-winning lap as solid and expressed relief after a weekend that had raised concerns.
“I wasn’t even that far off. It was just a couple of little issues that we had. I was confident after yesterday and confident coming into today so it’s nice to see that I could get back to the top.”
—Lando Norris, F1 Driver
He was quick to address negative commentary, denying any real worry following his earlier lap time deficit. According to Norris, the gap was partly due to factors such as slipstream and track position, rather than a lack of speed or skill.
“Three-tenths is just slipstream and not being first out the pit lane,”
Norris explained.
It was nothing to worry about but people like to make a lot of things up… I felt good. The car has been flying all weekend.
—Lando Norris, F1 Driver
Norris acknowledged the strong rivalry and collaboration between himself and Piastri, highlighting how both drivers push each other to improve.
“You learn from each other quickly. It’s a good, but tough battle that we have at the minute.”
—Lando Norris, F1 Driver
Preparing for What Could Be a Rain-Affected Race
Heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix, Norris is in excellent form, having secured consecutive wins earlier this season. The weather forecast predicts rain, which could make the race at Spa unpredictable. Known for his strong wet-weather performances, Norris remains optimistic but hopes for dry conditions.
“I’d prefer it to stay dry, honestly,”
Norris said.
“Even for the fans. It’s rained here for like the last 10 years or something so it would be nice to have a dry Sunday. I don’t mind whether it’s dry or rain or whatever it is, somewhere in the middle. It’s normal here and I look forward to a fun race.”
—Lando Norris, F1 Driver
With the track’s history of unpredictable weather and the intense competition between Norris and Piastri, the Belgian Grand Prix promises to be an exciting event, showcasing skill and strategy under variable conditions.