Lando Norris says he is “doing a s**t job on Saturday” after an error on his final qualifying lap left him fifth on the grid at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
McLaren has looked a candidate for the second fastest team throughout the weekend in Abu Dhabi, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri both in the top three in FP3. While Piastri went on to secure third on the grid, Norris was set for a quicker lap time but had to catch a massive slide in the final sector and says it cost him at least three positions on the grid.
“It cost four-tenths,” Norris said. “100 percent (it cost a front row spot). I didn’t do it, so it doesn’t matter.
“I don’t know if it was for P1, maybe, but I don’t think it would’ve been P1. I don’t care if you make any mistake in qualifying, when you’re fighting for a good position, it’s frustrating, but the thing is, I just make so many mistakes on a Saturday at the minute.
“Every other lap was some of my best laps. My first lap in Q3 was very strong, it’s just one little mistake, I don’t know why it happened, I’ve not done that all weekend. Just frustrating, I’m just doing a s**t job on Saturday.”
Norris denied a suggestion that he’s being too harsh on himself after earning another top-five starting position.
“Not at all. I should’ve been P2, and I end up P5 because of a stupid mistake,” he insisted. “I’m too soft on myself.”
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Norris’ boss Zak Brown was less frustrated by the situation, with both cars starting in the first five spots.
“I think we left a little bit on the table in qualifying, but as I said to Andrea [Stella, team principal] it’s pretty good when we’re a little bit disappointed with P3 and P5,” Brown told SpeedCity Broadcasting. “I think we’re in good shape. We’ve got two fast race cars, two very fast racing drivers, so we just need to execute tomorrow.
“I think [Norris] had a P2 in him there, but if he can get to P2 like he did in Brazil at Turn 1 then I think that will mean Oscar will want to be in P1 because I don’t think he’s going to want to be passed by anyone.
“Max [Verstappen] doesn’t seem to have been as quick all weekend long. I’d like to think we could push him, but my sneaking suspicion is he’s now got it all together come qualifying, he’ll be pretty tough in the race, but we’re going to try.
“We want to race for the win, for the podium. It’s kind of defensive driving to worry about people behind you so we’ve got to look forward.”