Lando Norris finds himself puzzled in Imola with his notable pace drop during qualifying.
- Norris consistently outperformed, except this time, leaving him outside the top three for the third time.
- George Russell’s tire strategy overshadowed Norris, pushing him further down the grid.
- Despite his self-criticism, Norris acknowledges his team’s efforts during this challenging season.
- With missed opportunities, Norris remains focused on understanding and improving his qualifying issues.
Lando Norris, known for his impressive qualifying performances, found himself unexpectedly slower during the recent Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. After finishing his final lap, he realized he had lost three-tenths of a second in sectors two and three. Others, like George Russell, capitalized on their strategic choices, while Norris found himself slipping in the standings.
Russell’s decision to use medium tires, inspired by Aston Martin’s success earlier in the day, proved beneficial. As he secured a place in the top three, Norris was bumped to fourth. Despite his reputation as a formidable title contender in the F1 2025 season, such qualifying performances have been a recurring issue, with Norris starting outside the top three in three of the past four races.
Norris expressed frustration with his qualifying form this year, acknowledging his mistakes without blaming the car. He admitted, “Everyone always goes quicker, and I go slower, so it is just not good enough.” He reflected on the changes from the previous year, where qualifying was his strong suit, saying, “A lot of things have changed from last year, and in my whole career, qualifying has been my biggest strength by a long way. But this year, it is just not coming my way.”
Despite these setbacks, Norris remains positive about the strides made by his team. He’s focused on understanding the issues affecting his qualifying pace, emphasizing his desire to compete for pole positions. “I think we understand the reasons why, but of course, I am not going to be the happiest about it, because I want to be fighting for pole,” he remarked. His commitment to improvement is unwavering as he navigates these challenging moments.
Lando Norris is determined to reverse his fortunes and remain competitive as he works through these qualifying challenges.
