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More mistakes for Norris in F1 Chinese GP qualifying

Lando Norris is leading the Formula 1 drivers’ championship for the first time in his career after his victory in Australia – but given he has now made a trio of mistakes at the Chinese Grand Prix, it seems as though this new pressure is something he is yet to come to terms with.

McLaren clearly has the fastest car this season, as proved by Oscar Piastri taking his first-ever grand prix pole for Sunday’s race in Shanghai, where the Australian will be joined on the front row of the grid by the Merecedes of George Russell.

Norris will start third – not bad all things considered, but it was another missed opportunity for the Briton this weekend.

Never make the same mistake twice is sage advice for anyone; Norris, however, has admitted to errors in sprint qualifying, the sprint race itself and now qualifying for the grand prix.

Another opportunity to recover ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix came and went after another fault at the business end of a session.

Norris had topped the timesheets in both Q1 and Q2 but, mirroring his sprint qualifying effort, he aborted his final flying lap and had to settle for a spot on the second row.

“I’m always disappointed if I'm not on pole but Oscar deserves it today, he's done a very good job all weekend so I'm happy for him – his first pole in Formula 1,” Norris said right after qualifying third.

“Just a couple of mistakes again, kind of been my case this weekend but the car is feeling a bit better today.

“I've got a lot more comfortable with the car, so a step in the right direction, especially from yesterday where I was struggling a lot and even this morning I was struggling a lot.

Lando Norris, McLaren (Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images)

“A much better direction that we're going in so, yeah, not too disappointed. It's quick enough, we never doubted that it is the quickest car. It can just be a little bit feisty at times, but it is not so much that: today was just mistakes from my side, and that's all.”

Norris candidly expanded on his troubles in the post-qualifying press conference.

“Still too many mistakes from my side and not as comfortable as I was in Australia," he added. "Just tricky, but it is for everyone. I just haven't done the best job and Oscar has done a very good job. Still a good result. I'm still happy with P3.
“Oscar has shown great pace. I definitely haven't, especially from the race pace and whenever we struggle with front graining, it's something I struggle with a lot. It's difficult for me. It's been a therefore a difficult weekend just trying to deal with those things.
“It's something I'm not strong enough in. I've got a long night ahead of me to sit down and go through all the data and see what I can improve for tomorrow.”

While he might not be disappointed after a tough Saturday, Norris will know he needs to cut out the mistakes if he is to leave China still sitting top of the early championship standings.

Photos from Chinese GP - Sprint Race & Qualifying

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine Fans

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Fans of Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas F1 on the grid with Haas F1 team members prior to the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Simon Gallo

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Zhou Guanyu , Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Yao Ming on the grid with Red Bull Racing team members

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Fans of Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Racing Bulls team cheer in the garage

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Fans of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday

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In this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Formula 1
Lando Norris
McLaren
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