“Everyone can be a hero on the weekend,” said Randnoris after winning pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix. That’s something he knows well.
This season we were with Norris before. His performance in Australia was strong, and his exhibit in Monaco was strong. But the fact that these are only twice, not feeling like they’re on the table anymore shows just how frustrating and contradictory his year was.
On the one hand, his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, deserves great credit for his own level of performance, every week. But on the other hand, Norris needs to stop making so many mistakes, especially during qualifying.
That might sound a bit strange to say after Norris retired after crashing into a teammate, but Montreal was another race where Norris had been out of position and started many places behind Piastri. His race pace was strong, but he was often in the form of recovery mode.
Austria was different. He was different as he took the pole from Charles Leclair for over 30 seconds.
“I mean, that’s very satisfying, but again, it’s about consistency,” Norris said. “Everyone can be a hero on the weekend. It’s progress. It’s progress. I’m very pleased today, but it’s still a long journey. It’s a long season.
“The work I had to do today, and I did, and it doesn’t make up for the last few weeks or anything, but I did it today, so that’s what matters.
If Norris seemed a little sober after a crushed Paul performance, it could be because of how well he knows the need to take advantage of it. Clive Rose/Getty Images
The bit Norris put together very well was his first lap in the third quarter. It’s where he often tripped and put pressure on his second lap, making errors that increased the likelihood that he could make the situation worse. However, at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday, his first knee in Q3 was enough for pole’s position, putting pressure on his rival to find something special, and at the same time freeing Norris and pushing himself a little more.
“In fact, I think the gap between me and a few others was greater than I had expected throughout Quali,” he admitted. “They weren’t miles away on FP3, but as soon as we headed out to Quali, we looked like a good step.
“So I wasn’t too worried, but he (Piastry) said he’s pretty fast and I’m also hoping he’s going outside and put in a good lap, especially in Q3. So I think the pressure was still there.
Norris comfortably recorded the biggest pole position margin of the season, leading to a Red Bull Ring lap that Norris said “probably as close as I’d like.”
“All places I can get close to gravel or go beyond my limits, I feel like I am. So it was a very good rap,” he said. “I think I’ve improved every corner, especially at the fast turn 6, turn 7, 9, 10, especially at Quali, you have to commit.
“It’s rewarding when things go well like today. I was very pleased to put the rap on today’s rap. It was a fun qualification.”
It’s fun for Norris, but it might not be that fun to watch the packs he chased. Leclerc said the pole position lap “must have been very special indeed,” but he also said he was not driving Ferrari out of the battle for victory. One reason is the strong race pace on Friday, but the other is the feeling that certain qualified performances don’t necessarily mark a step change in Norris’ form.
The McLaren driver himself admits that he needs to find consistency, but suggests that an upgrade designed to improve his senses in the MCL39 could help unlock his possibilities.
“I think the third quarter was the best rap I’ve done this whole season in terms of delivery, consistency and putting it in when it matters, and maybe better than Monaco,” Norris said. “It’s probably not as exciting as Monaco, but definitely a rap of something better than I did there.
“Some of it is the smallest thing that allowed me to take it out of the car from the changes in the car. Whether it’s an upgrade or not, it’s always very difficult, but it was definitely the most confident and comfortable in terms of getting the lap time from the car and getting it through.
“When I have those feelings today, I think it shows that it’s not all yet, but more is there than before – you can have a day like today. So it shows that I need, the emotions I don’t get easily, that they can perform better and have a day like today.
“I think it’s a relief for me, but it’s still about consistency. This is one weekend. You have to do it for another, what, 12, 13, etc.”
More than that, Norris will have to do it all over the weekend, with points being paid on Sunday. It’s not too enthusiastic about his qualified performance marking a potential turning point, and he loses to Piastri and Ferrari in the race. And Piastri couldn’t get the chance to show what he could do in his final attempt because of Pierre Guthrie’s yellow flag, which spins.
However, a strong first Q3 lap from Norris set his pole position and made his rival vulnerable to such a scenario. It builds momentum and helps Norris start from a position where he no longer makes a catch-up.
It was a top quality exhibit that the 25-year-old knows what he can do. The challenges remain to demonstrate this ability regularly.
