 "Lando Norris finished P6 in the qualifying of Bahrain GP. Image: Reuters")
Despite high expectations heading into qualifying at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, Lando Norris could only manage P6 on the grid. Meanwhile, his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri stunned the field by securing pole position. Norris, who had a promising showing in practice sessions, was disappointed after the qualifying round.
Speaking candidly after Q3, the British driver gave one of the most brutally honest interviews of his Formula 1 career so far.
“I was just slow. I’ve been slow this whole weekend, to be honest. Nothing too surprising, honestly. I’ve just been off it. I feel like I’ve just never driven an F1 car before. I’m struggling a lot, I don’t know why. I need to try and find some answers,” Norris said.
“The car’s amazing. I have nothing to complain about. The car, the team are doing an amazing job, Oscar’s on pole by a good chunk. I’m thankful for the team, they’re doing an amazing job, just I’m letting them down,” he added.
Norris was realistic about his chances in the main race: “It’s to try and win the race, but I don’t think I’ll win tomorrow. I think to try and aim for a podium will be the best chance. I think Oscar will lap everyone. I’ll try and get to second, I guess.”
Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok offered some insight into Norris’ struggles, noting that the Briton had been trailing his team-mate since FP2, and particularly lost ground in the first sector of his final lap.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“He lost three tenths in the first sector. He would have been close to George [Russell], but still behind Oscar — and you don’t want to be beaten by your team-mate. To be sixth on the grid on a weekend where we were talking about a McLaren one-two, he’s now got four others ahead of him,” Chandhok said.
As McLaren heads into the Bahrain Grand Prix with one driver on the front row and another outside the top five, all eyes will be on Norris to recover and Piastri to convert his pole into victory.
Bahrain Grand Prix: Qualification results
| POS | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:29.841 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:30.009 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:30.175 |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:30.213 |
| 5 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:30.216 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:30.267 |
| 7 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:30.423 |
| 8 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:30.680 |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:30.772 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1:31.303 |
| 11 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1:31.245 |
| 12 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:31.271 |
| 13 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:31.886 |
| 14 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | — |
| 15 | Alexander Albon | Williams | — |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Stake | 1:32.067 |
| 17 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:32.165 |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake | 1:32.186 |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:32.283 |
| 20 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:32.373 |