“Pretty disappointed, pretty annoyed” – McLaren star Lando Norris unfortunately missed out on a Row 2 finish in Imola qualifying by virtue of a track limit mistake.
Lando Norris had a dream run in the final qualifying session in Imola, achieving purple times in the first two sectors towards the final phase. But it was undone by a track limit violation in Turn 9, dropping him down to P7 eventually. The McLaren driver was visibly pissed off with the mistake, letting his feelings known to Sky F1.
“Pretty disappointed, pretty annoyed with myself. I think it was a very good day until then. I think the team did an awesome job. The car really came alive in quali, we made a lot of improvements on Friday. But that one lap that I don’t need to make a mistake on, I F’d it all up.
“The thing people don’t realise is it’s the same for everyone. At the end of the day, it’s my mistake and I’ve messed it up. From the outside, it looks a lot easier to stay within the lines than what it is inside.
“When you’re in Q3 and you have an opportunity to be P2, P3 or score your best result in qualifying, you’re pushing and when you’re going at such a speed in such a high-speed corner, misjudging by about this amount (illustrates with fingers)…”
Lando Norris has made a strong start to the season, and together with Daniel Ricciardo, look set to hold on to the mightily improved challenge by Ferrari. For F1 fans, today was good, with an open qualifying a rarity of late.
Read more F1 Track Limits 2021: Lando Norris denied 1st lane start with track limit violation at Imola
