Norris achieved a close finish in Q3, just 0.241 seconds behind Max Verstappen’s pole position, followed closely by his team-mate, Oscar Piastri.
Norris temporarily claimed the pole in the final round until he was outpaced by Verstappen’s best time of 1m26.720s. This resulted in the best qualifying performance of the year for the Woking-based team, surpassing Norris’ earlier third-place start in Barcelona.
In a jovial remark, Norris claimed that Verstappen had “spoiled everything” by edging him out at the last moment. Nonetheless, he showed enthusiasm for the upcoming Sunday race.
The most recent British GP victory for McLaren was achieved by Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
In response to queries about his near pole position, Norris commented, “I was within reach. I led in Q1 and probably Q2. Being two-tenths from the top in Q3 is quite staggering.
“My final lap was strong. Hearing Zak on the in-lap radio was a high point.
“It’s not just a personal achievement; having both of us secure second and third positions was truly spectacular for the whole team.”
Norris concluded with, “It’s always Max who ends up spoiling the party for everybody else. But I’m ecstatic. I owe a lot to the supportive crowd here, it’s been a particularly special day for us. I’m eagerly anticipating tomorrow.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60
Photo by: James Sutton / F1 Flow Images
Piastri lauded the MCL60 as a “rocket ship” in both Q2 and Q3. This resulted in a monumental accomplishment for the team and secured his highest F1 qualifying result yet.
A visibly delighted Piastri reflected on the qualifying round: “What an exhilarating qualifying session.
“We were on the verge of being eliminated in Q1, but the car demonstrated remarkable speed in Q2 and Q3. I think I managed to pull together a commendable lap.
“This result is massive for the team too. Consistently having both of us rank high is a substantial achievement. Our focus now is to maintain this momentum for tomorrow.”
Piastri confessed to having a “somewhat rough day” on Friday, with Norris ranking eighth and Piastri tenth in FP1, followed by a ninth-place finish for Piastri and fourteenth for Norris in FP2.
He further added, “I believe we were faster than we appeared to be, we just struggled to optimise the car’s performance, something we improved upon today.
“We consistently perform well under these conditions, similar to our experience in Barcelona, Monaco, and Canada.
“The results in Q3 were excellent, with both of us benefiting from the new parts on our cars, which are functioning exceedingly well.
“I must express my gratitude to the team for their relentless efforts in elevating us from our initial position this season to where we currently stand. This signifies a major stride forward.”
Verstappen claimed his sixth pole of the season on Saturday after a “wild qualifying” and expressed his surprise at the McLaren duo’s performance.
He noted: “It’s been quite frenzied and the track was slippery in some sections. But we managed our laps, and then onto Q3.
“I was taken aback to see both of them there, but it’s a testament to McLaren’s improvement. From our perspective, we’re thrilled to secure the pole.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about F1 British GP Qualifying
Who came close to winning the F1 British GP pole?
Norris finished closely behind the pole winner, Verstappen, with a time difference of just 0.241 seconds. His teammate Piastri was a further tenth behind him.
Who held the provisional pole in the final stages of the F1 British GP qualifying?
Norris had the provisional pole during the final stages of the qualifying before he was overtaken by Verstappen’s best time of 1m26.720s.
What was McLaren’s last British GP win?
McLaren’s last victory at the British GP was in 2008, a feat achieved by Lewis Hamilton.
How did Oscar Piastri perform in the F1 British GP qualifying?
Oscar Piastri secured his best ever F1 qualifying result, finishing closely behind his teammate Norris and Verstappen.
How many pole positions has Verstappen secured in the current season?
As of the British GP, Verstappen has secured six pole positions for the season.
More about F1 British GP Qualifying
- F1 Official Website
- Detailed Race Results and Standings
- McLaren Official Website
- Max Verstappen Official Website
- Lando Norris Official Website
- Oscar Piastri Official Website
5 comments
wow, Norris was so close to that pole! reckon if it wasn’t for Max, he’d have bagged it. man that was tense!
Six poles for Max, way to go! He’s tearing it up this season. Sorry Norris, better luck next time 😉
Totally chuffed for Piastri, what a result! the kid’s really showing his stuff. Go McLaren!
if im honest didnt see this comin. thought we’d be struggling more this season, but Norris and Piastri are on fire! Next year, it’s ours for sure.
A bit of a rollercoaster, ain’t it? One minute Norris is P1, next its Verstappen. Can’t wait to see what the race brings. Buckle up, everyone!