F1 qualifying results: Lando Norris delivers the lap he needed when he needed it most at the Austrian Grand Prix

While the clock hit zero on the second segment of qualifications at the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the Q3 is looming on the paddock, we could not help thinking that the 12 most consecutive minutes of the 2025 season were to date on the horizon.

Lando Norris, after missing FP1 as McLaren, gave the young development pilot Alex Dunne a chance to run in practice, had dominated the time sheets in the next two training sessions, as well as during the Q1 and the Q2. But it was a scenario that the paddock had seen before this season, from the weeks when Norris looked at the prohibitive favorite of pole position until a bond, a discharge, an error in Q3 opened the door to one of his rivals, the drivers of doors like Max Verstappen, George Russell and Oscar Piastri were more than happy at the storm.

And with this session of the first quarter that arrives in the heels of Norris’ error in the closing act of the Canadian Grand Prix, where the confrontation planned on the track with Piastri left Norris without a front wing, and out of the race, the Q3 has taken on additional importance for the driver of McLaren.

This time he closed the door.

Norris delivered the knees he needed when he needed it most, storm in pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix. While an inappropriate rotation of Pierre Gasly released a rapid yellow flag, hindering the final thrust towers of Verstappen and Piastri, the two pilots conceded that it would have been almost impossible for Norris that day.

When asked if it was a “perfect” round at the press conference after qualification, Norris said that it was as close as he could ask.

“Always impossible to say, but as close as I would likely ask,” Norris started at the FIA ​​press conference. “You know, in all the places where I could be about to be in the gravel or the limit, I feel like I was. So it was a very good turn. I think I have improved in all corners and, especially here, with high speed speed 6, turns 7, 9 and 10, especially in qualities, you have to commit, and it is exciting and nauseating in time.

“So, yes, once again, enriching when things go well as they did today. And to put the tricks in what I did today, I was very happy. So, yes, it was a fun qualification.”

As always, Norris remains his hardest critic, even an afternoon like this. Self-reflection is a line it displays after each session, and it was not different. McLaren’s driver stressed that season F1 is a “long journey”, and that being a hero today will not make his season.

“I mean, it’s very satisfactory, but again, it is coherence. Anyone can be a hero in a weekend,” added Norris. “It’s progress. It’s steps forward. I’m very happy today, but it’s still a long trip. It’s a long season. The work I had to do today, I did it. And that doesn’t compensate for the last weekends or anything, but I did it today, and that’s what was counting. So, yes, very satisfied and happy to have put it in place when I needed it.”

However, Norris admitted that today’s result, with his performances already this week, gave him confidence in the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.

“I start in the best position. But we have been good since the first rounds I made in FP2. We were competitive, and I felt confident and comfortable in the car,” said Norris. “We had some improvements on the car this weekend, which is our first set of appropriate upgrades for the whole season. So, we waited a lot of time to apply them, and from what I see today, it seems that it has definitely moved us in the right direction – in particular on a circuit where there is only eight turns. So, yes, yes, yes,

“I am convinced that we can always have a good race tomorrow, but it’s long and a lot can happen.”

However, it was a dominant performance. As F1 noted, perhaps the most dominant of the season:

Many things can happen, but on Saturday to Red Bull Ring, Norris delivered the towers he needed, when he needed it most.

Will they prove a turning point in the fight for the title 2025?