Lando Norris is baffled. Over the past few years, good qualifying has been one of the British driver’s strong suits. However, during the first seven races of 2025, this seems to have changed, with teammate Oscar Piastri even leading in the internal qualifying duel for the first time. Norris is confident that he still has the speed, but is concerned about performing when it really matters. ‘And at the moment, that’s Saturday,’ says the McLaren driver.
Throughout his entire Formula 1 career, Lando Norris has never lost a qualifying duel with a teammate over an entire season. In 2024, the Brit even qualified better than Oscar Piastri twenty times. The Australian was only able to beat his teammate in the internal qualifying duel on Saturdays four times. A year later, that seems to be changing. So far this season, Piastri has finished above Norris four times in the seven races, including during the last Grand Prix in Imola.
The Brit candidly admits that he doesn’t understand why his Saturdays this season are disappointing. “I just know I can do more,” Norris tells Channel 4. “Until I can realize my potential every weekend, I won’t be completely satisfied.” However, the McLaren driver does not doubt his speed. “But I’m only worried about what I can achieve when it really matters. And at the moment, that’s on Saturday.”
‘Saturday was my strong point’
With ten pole positions to his name, seven more than teammate Piastri, good qualifying has never been a problem for Norris in the past. “In recent years, Saturdays were mine. They have been my strong point for many years. This year – with the car being a bit different, with the tires being different – it’s no longer my strong point for some reason. I just need to figure out why it’s a bit harder for me to get the lap times out and why it just doesn’t click.”
