P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris has expressed that he is anticipating a close “battle” with McLaren’s rivals in the F1 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race despite surging to pole position.
Lando Norris topped the initial two sessions on the Medium compound and then set the pace with a 1:21.012s in the Softs during SQ3. Despite not improving on his second run, he maintained the lead by a 0.063-second margin over George Russell. Norris described the track as the quickest of the year and highlighted the challenges of the final sector. He acknowledged the improvements made since the last race in Vegas, expressing satisfaction with his pole position. Norris emphasized the physical and speed challenges posed by the track’s improved conditions compared to the previous year. McLaren’s strong qualifying positions suggest a potential fight with Mercedes and Ferrari in the upcoming race.
