Norris reveals 'oh c***!' moment as title fight hits crunch time in Vegas

06:49, 22 Nov

1 Comments

byNorberto Mujica

Lando Norris has bagged pole in a defiant drive that saw him consolidate his title bid further.

"I expected it to be dry but I woke up and saw it was raining and though 'oh crap this is not going to go well'.

- Lando Norris

Lando Norris got pole position for the2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Photo: RacePictures.

The unexpected rain threw a spanner in the works for all drivers as they attempted to navigate the complicated conditions, which Norris himself resented as he admitted he couldn't keep the car between the track limits early in Q1.

However, conditions eventually improved, and saw Norris top the charts as the chequered flag flew under the Las Vegas night lights.

"Boy that was stressful, stressful as hell!," Norris said. "I didn't know no one else would get a lap after me."

"I knew the first two sectors were good. It's so slippery out there. As soon as you hit the kerb a bit wrong, like I did, you snap one way, lose the car the other way. Close to hitting the wall!

"Good enough for P1. Not the nicest of conditions but I'm happy it stopped raining and we could get a good qualifying on," he added.

Norris reveals 'Oh crap!' moment

Norris wasn't exactly nervous ahead of the qualifying session. Quite the opposite he revealed: "I was having a little nap before Qualifying.

"I expected it to be dry but I woke up and saw it was raining and though 'oh c*** this is not going to go well'.

"No one has driven around here in the rain before, so it was difficult to know what to expect.

"After Q1, every corner you felt you could crash and it could easily be over!,"

That his pole came under such treachorous conditions is something Norris takes pride in. "More rewarding a day like this because it was a tricky one," he added.

"The pace has been good all weekend. I think it was going to be good in the dry, I didn't expect to be as good as I was then in the wet.

"There are a lot of unknowns tomorrow. No one has done much high fuel running.

"It will be an interesting race, especially with Max up there. Hopefully we can have a good race tomorrow," Norris concluded.

In case you missed it

To relive the thrill of the enthralling qualifying session in Las Vegas you can read the full report here.

To review the qualifying session's results, click on this link.

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