Lando Norris qualified second for the Japanese Grand Prix behind four-time champion Max Verstappen, who secured pole position. The McLaren driver congratulated Verstappen for overcoming the recent issues on the Red Bull RB21, but he’s ready to fight his rival for the first corner.
McLaren has been strong all weekend, with both Norris and his team-mate Oscar Piastri going fastest in each practice session.
“I’m happy. Congrats to Max. He did a good job, so hats off to him. You have to credit something when it’s a lap that good that he must have done,” Norris explained to Sky Sports on the live broadcast.
“I feel I got everything out of the car. Just a tiny [margin] but Max did an amazing lap.
“For both of us [McLaren drivers] to be up there is good, but it’s not enough.”
Noting the mistakes on his first flying lap in Q3, he added:
“I dipped a wheel on the exit of Turn 7, so just a couple of little mistakes and it shows how easy it is to lose lap time.
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“My [last] lap was very good. If I were to go again, I probably wouldn’t go as quick as I did.
“I feel like we were on the limit of what we had, we just didn’t have enough today.”
Looking ahead to the Grand Prix tomorrow, Norris is aware of the unpredictable weather that could lead to a race similar to the chaotic season-opener in Australia.
“That’s the goal but no one knows what the weather is going to do tomorrow. It could be another race like Australia.
“It will be an exciting race. We want to get past Max but he will put up a good fight but I’ve been there before so I’m excited for it.”
The race currently has an 86% chance of rain.
Photos from Japanese GP – Practice & Qualifying
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
2025 Japanese Grand Prix – Saturday
In this article
Lydia Mee
Formula 1
Lando Norris
McLaren
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