Norris confident but fears weather will favour Mercedes at Brazil GP

15:31, 09 Nov

Updated: 15:48, 09 Nov

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byBen Winship

Polesitter Lando Norris expects a challenge from Mercedes during this Sunday’s Brazil GP.

“With the Mercedes pace and Kimi's pace, it certainly lowered my confidence level altogether.”

- Lando Norris

The championship leader continued his strong form to take pole position by 0.174s ahead of Kimi Antonelli in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P3.

Norris was victorious in the Sprint earlier on Saturday but was pushed hard by Antonelli in the closing stages to win by a margin of less than one second.

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Speaking after qualifying Norris said: “In terms of our race pace, it's not the most [confidence] I’ve had.

“I was certainly more confident in Mexico. I think after this morning, with the Mercedes pace and Kimi's pace, it certainly lowered my confidence level altogether.

“But we’re still quick. We’ve still got that little advantage in qualifying, and I really hope that we can continue that into the race tomorrow.

“But the weather is going to change again - I think it’s meant to be even colder, which might suit them even more. And the wind is meant to change also. So it's difficult."

The Mercedes W16 has typically performed well in cold weather conditions as Antonelli and George Russell finished on the podium in the Sprint.

The top 3 for Saturday's sprint - Photo: Race Pictures

An improved Norris

While his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri has struggled in recent times and crashed out of the Sprint on Saturday, Norris continues to gather momentum in the world championship.

Following the Sprint, Norris leads the championship by nine points and appears at ease with himself going into Sunday's Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri walking away from his McLaren wreckage in the F1 Sprint - Photo: Race Pictures

Norris said: “Every track is so different. The feeling I have on one track is different to the next and those kinds of things.

“But I just feel like I’m doing a good job. I'm driving well.

“Before, earlier in the season, I would just have weaknesses.

“I feel like I’ve maybe still got some here and there, but I’ve lessened them, they’re not like one tenth now - it’s two hundredths.

“So when I can put together the good parts and have those not-so-bad parts, things go very well.”

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