Lando Norris remained upbeat despite finishing second to team-mate Oscar Piastri in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying, admitting he made "a couple of little mistakes" whilst praising his rival's performance.
The Briton will be hoping to win the main event on Sunday as he looks to close the gap on his close friend at the top of the standings.
"Oscar drove very well. I think the pace was definitely there, I just [made] a couple of little mistakes," said Norris.
"Yep, I didn't do it and Oscar was driving very well all weekend, so a good result for the team, a nice one-two and an interesting start for tomorrow.
Lando Norris remained upbeat despite finishing second to team-mate Oscar Piastri in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying, admitting he made "a couple of little mistakes" whilst praising his rival's performance
REUTERS
"It's a long run down to turn one which is always interesting, and we've got a lot of quick guys behind us we won't count them out. But a good result for today, I'm happy."
The Briton expressed supreme confidence in McLaren's race pace ahead of Sunday's grand prix. When asked if he felt he had a good race car, Norris replied emphatically: "We do, we have the best one."
He acknowledged the long run to turn one would create opportunities but remained optimistic about McLaren's prospects.
McLaren achieved their first front row lockout in 27 years at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Piastri securing pole position ahead of team-mate Norris.
JUST IN: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal set for stunning tennis return as huge news leaked
Lando Norris was proud of his performance despite missing out on pole for the Spanish Grand Prix
REUTERS
The Woking-based team dominated qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone for the constructor.
Piastri delivered when it mattered most, getting the better of Norris on their final qualifying runs.
Sky Sports commentator Nico Rosberg suggested the British driver was over-driving during his pole attempt, whilst Piastri nailed his crucial final lap to claim the top starting position.
The front row lockout represents McLaren's strongest qualifying performance in nearly three decades, setting up an intriguing battle between the teammates for Sunday's race.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher explains why PSG boss won't talk to him ahead of Champions League final
Piastri credited the progress made in his garage throughout the weekend after claiming his pole position.
"Yeah, very happy, it's been a good weekend so far. It didn't start off in the best way and we were struggling a little bit, but last night we found some pace and today the car has been mega," he said.
The Australian driver highlighted specific improvements that contributed to his qualifying success.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
"I improved quite a lot in turn one, actually, there were another couple of points on the lap where I've been struggling all day," Piastri explained.
"It wasn't the perfect lap but around here, with the tyres going off so much through the lap, it's very tough to do that so I'm very happy with all the work I've put in."
Just three points separate the two McLaren drivers at the top of the championship, setting the stage for what promises to be a tight and tense title tussle between the team-mates.
Oscar Piastri was pleased after securing pole for the Spanish Grand Prix
REUTERS
The minimal gap in points adds extra significance to their front row lockout, with both drivers now positioned to maximise their championship ambitions from the Spanish Grand Prix.
The close championship battle between Piastri and Norris creates an intriguing dynamic within the McLaren camp, as the team must balance supporting both drivers' title aspirations whilst maximising constructor points.
Their dominant qualifying performance demonstrates McLaren's current competitiveness, but the tight points gap ensures neither team-mate can afford to concede ground in their championship fight.
Most Read
