Lando Norris took a significant step forward in his Formula 1 career this season as he competed at the front for the first time.
The British driver battled for the championship but struggled at times over the Qatar Grand Prix weekend so far at the Lusail International Circuit.
Norris and McLaren have been competitive in Qatar as they have excelled in the very high-speed turns in the second and third sectors.
He had the pace to win the Sprint ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri but gave the victory to the Australian out of the last turn without being told to by the team.
Jenson Button explained on Sky Sports F1 that there was one odd thing about Norris in qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix.
Jenson Button thought Norris’ lack of pace in qualifying was ‘strange’
McLaren were very competitive during the opening stages of the race weekend as Norris took pole position in Sprint qualifying.
The British team also finished one-two in the Sprint ahead of George Russell, who could be a threat and even had the confidence to swap positions on the line.
Qualifying for the Grand Prix was very different as Max Verstappen had found much more speed to take pole position.
McLaren were further behind as neither car were quick enough to snatch a place on the front row of the grid in Qatar.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton mocks Lando Norris race starts in Qatar Grand Prix fan zone
Norris qualified in third place just ahead of his teammate Piastri, who won the Sprint at the Lusail International Circuit last season as well as in 2024.
Button explained he found McLaren’s regression over the day strange after being the class of the field in the Sprint odd.
He said: “Strange, isn’t it? You just think, ‘Well, that car is quick around here this weekend. It’ll be quick all weekend’, but not necessarily the case.”
A victory for Lando Norris would be a significant confidence boost heading into 2025
Norris took some superb victories this season such as his first Grand Prix victory in Miami as well as a dominant drive in Singapore.
He showed he can compete at the front over both a single lap and a race distance, where consistency is essential. A win in the Qatar Grand Prix or in Abu Dhabi would be a boost after a tough run of races.
The McLaren driver’s title challenge was halted by a series of errors, such as at the Italian Grand Prix when he was too tame in combat against his teammate Piastri.
McLaren may be competitive once more more in 2025 and Norris would have to be prepared to deliver from the outset in Australia.
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