Lando Norris has conceded he “hates” questions regarding his Formula 1 title fight as he out-qualified rival Max Verstappen for the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris appeared the man that the rest had to beat in Sprint Qualifying in Brazil as he set an ominous pace on the Medium compound during the opening two sessions.
But while he headed the times again with his initial lap in SQ3 on Softs, Oscar Piastri managed to eclipse his McLaren team-mate’s benchmark on his second attempt.
Norris was unable to respond to Piastri’s 1:08.899s as multiple mistakes on his last run saw him return to the pits and abandon the lap, resigning him to second place.
“I think a big improvement comparing to where we were earlier today,” Norris, who was quickest in FP1, reviewed. “We were struggling a lot.
“A little bit surprised that we were so quick today, but a pleasant one of course. A good lap. I made so many mistakes on my final lap and just boxed.
“But yeah, good job as a team. Like I said, wasn’t expecting it. So a pleasant surprise and just too many mistakes on my final lap.”
Norris slams question on Verstappen
Despite losing out to his team-mate at the death, Norris will start two places ahead of reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen, who has a 47-point lead over the Briton.
However, Norris has asserted that he has no interest in where the Dutchman qualified as he insisted that his attention is on ensuring that he maximises his prospects.
When it was put to him that Verstappen will line up behind him tomorrow, Norris retorted: “I don’t care. I hate these questions so much.
“I’m just gonna race, I don’t care about where he qualifies. For me, it’s just a focus on my own job. It’s the same question every time, but it doesn’t matter.
McLaren’s long-run pace an unknown
Meanwhile, Norris has contended that McLaren’s blistering one-lap pace around Interlagos provides no guarantees that it will be quick in race conditions in the Sprint.
“Tomorrow’s a completely different day,” he warned. “So we’ll see.
“We definitely made some good steps forward. So good enough and happy with today, but we’ll see in the Sprint.”
READ MORE – Oscar Piastri snatches Sprint pole from McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in Brazil
