Norris couldn't repeat best pole lap of career in U.S. GP qualifying

Lando Norris says his pole position lap at the United States Grand Prix was the best of his career, and that he didn’t think he could better it when he went out for his final run. Max Verstappen was fastest in Q1 and Q2 having won the Sprint race, but Norris then set the provisional pole position time on the first attempts in Q3. George Russell’s crash while the final laps were in progress meant the opening times set the grid, and Norris doesn’t believe he could have improved anyway. “The best probably of my career, I think,” Norris said. “It was just a very nice lap. I kind of set the bar too high, because on my second lap, I was like, ‘Guys, I don’t think I’m going to improve much here.’ “I got everything out of the car. We changed a good amount from the Sprint race into qualifying today now, and definitely took a step forward. But man, I was still struggling a lot. I just knew I had to risk a little bit more and give it that little extra, and it just came together perfectly. “Definitely not a lap that I could have repeated, so I’m very happy because I really wasn’t expecting to be here today. “It was a bit everywhere, honestly. Of course the high speed is a little bit where we struggle a touch compared to the Red Bulls especially. Max has been extremely quick in the first sector and the high speed. Trying to limit that a little bit more was a good start. “And then just the braking, the final sector, from s 12 to 16, as soon as one part goes wrong, it can all fall away quite quickly. Again just hooked everything up the first time all weekend, and probably the last. It just came together perfectly. It was a very, very good lap. I’d probably say quite confidently the best of my career.” Norris started the Sprint in fourth, but a good first corner saw him run second for the majority of the race before his pace faded and an error on the final lap cost him third to Carlos Sainz. Although he admits tires are a big concern, the McLaren driver is hopeful he won’t suffer a repeat given the set-up work the team did before qualifying, and is expecting a close fight between multiple teams for the win on Sunday. “I don’t think it was as bad as what it was,” he said. “I think certain events led to such a thing. We improved the car quite a bit. We were definitely not contending anywhere close to pole yesterday, and today, we did. “We’re still a bit off, but we’re in a good position. Our pace relative to Max over yesterday and today is probably a bit more similar. I probably expected the Ferraris and Mercedes to be a bit quicker today, but maybe they just got a bit more out of the car earlier on in the weekend, and we’ve been able to take a bigger step forward between the Sprint and now. “Maybe we’ve caught up a bit, but it’s going to be a tough race. Ferrari were very quick in the race today with the degradation. Max is Max, so they’re going to be fast. I’m excited. I think it’s going to be a good battle and a good one to watch.”