0

BEĞENDİM

ABONE OL

News

0

Lando Norris said he will have to keep producing performances like he did in Monaco today to prove he’s made a breakthrough with his qualifying form.

The McLaren driver claimed his first pole position since the season-opening round in Australia. It ties him 4-4 with team mate Oscar Piastri on qualifying performances so far this year.

Given his varying form, Norris said today’s result doesn’t prove he’s solved the problems he was having before. “I think to classify it as a breakthrough, you also need consistency of results,” said Norris after today’s qualifying session.

“I can look at it both ways. I can see, easily, the positive – it’s a breakthrough in that I had a good Saturday. And for me, that’s at least a step in the right direction, which I’m very, very happy about.

“But it’s still [only] one weekend. Consistency is a big part of it too. I’ll be happier if I know and I can get to that point where I’m confident into every session that I can perform like I did today because I think my performance was at a very, very strong level.

“If we go into Barcelona, Canada, and the next few tracks and I can consistently perform at this level, then that’s our goal. But certainly, today was a step in the right direction. Whether that’s a small step or a big step, it’s a step, and that’s all I need for now.”

Taking pole “means a lot, not just because it’s been a while since I’ve been here, but just because of how things have gone over the last couple of months in qualifying,” he admitted.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

“To come here with a fresh mindset and plenty more opportunities… and in Monaco it’s just a cooler, more special place to do it. A harder place, because it’s more difficult as a lap. More exciting, more pressure, but the most relief at the same time when you do a good job. And today was that day.

“So, it means a lot to me, to my whole team, because we’ve been working a lot for another moment like this.”

Norris said several changes were behind his improvement in form this weekend. “There’s things from the car, just it being Monaco and a very different layout, a very different kind of style of driving that’s needed here,” he said. “It’s a lot more risk, commitment, rather than just absolute car balance, in a way.

“Also, there’s things that I’ve been working on to improve, to do a better job. Again, never because I’ve not had the pace, just more that I’ve never put it together come Q3. Today was probably the first time since Australia that I’ve really put it all together.

“So it’s not like I’m driving quicker, it’s that I’m driving in a better way, in a smarter way. But there’s been a lot of work that’s gone on.

“Even if I was pole at any other track, I think it probably would have been the pole that’s meant the most to me. It probably means even more that it’s in Monaco, but more because of what’s happened over the last couple of months. It may not seem like a lot, but for me, it’s quite a big thing. So, yep. Like I said, a very, very good moment.”

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Since his last pole position, Norris has crashed in qualifying at Jeddah and failed to join his team mate on the front row three times. However he said he never felt any self-doubt.

“I don’t think I’ve ever doubted what I can do,” he said. “Of course, I’ve got frustrated. I’ve been unhappy because that’s normal. If you don’t win, if you don’t get pole, you’re not going to be happy, especially when it’s where you should be. It’s what the objective is.

“So, of course, I’ve had those moments. But I’ve still never, certainly not this year, doubted what I’m capable of doing. And having a day like today certainly backs all of that up.”

2025 Monaco Grand Prix

Browse all 2025 Monaco Grand Prix articles