Why McLaren felt the “real picture” was Miami GP qualifying and not its sprint pole and win
McLaren felt the “real picture” of the Formula 1 pecking order appeared in Miami Grand Prix qualifying, as it went from a sprint pole position and 1-2 in the race to fourth and seventh in qualifying.
The reigning F1 world champion squad enjoyed the perfect start to its Miami GP weekend with Lando Norris taking pole for the sprint race, which he duly converted into victory while team-mate Oscar Piastri made it a 1-2 in the 19-lap encounter.
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But in Miami GP qualifying, Norris could only manage fourth on the grid – 0.385s off polesitter Kimi Antonelli – while Piastri dropped to seventh.
While on paper it appeared McLaren’s performance had dipped after its bright start, both drivers felt it was its rivals who underperformed during the two sprint sessions and corrected that come grand prix qualifying.
“I think we still did a good job, I think others just did a really bad job yesterday and just did the job they should do today, honestly, so not too many complaints,” Norris said.
“It was certainly a bit trickier with the car today with the wind and the temperatures, maybe the car just wasn't working quite as well and I certainly struggled a little bit more for whatever reason, but not because we changed anything, it's just the conditions were a little bit different and the others just did a job that they should do and I think we are where we deserve to be honestly.”
Lando Norris, McLaren
Piastri added: “I think everyone else maximised what they had a lot more. For us it was a big surprise to not see Mercedes be quick yesterday and this morning, and seeing Kimi on pole by that much is more what we expected. And I think even for Max and Charles, I think they probably just maximised a bit more of what they have - and that's a bit more of real picture.”
Norris, who took sprint pole with a 1m27.869s, could only manage a best lap time of 1m28.183s in grand prix qualifying, while Piastri saw a similar dip (1m28.108s in sprint qualifying versus 1m28.500s in grand prix qualifying).
The defending F1 world champion felt it was evidence of McLaren nailing its performance on Friday evening but a small dip coupled with improvements from its rivals culminated in its drop down the order.
“I don't think people gave us good credit for how good of a job we did yesterday comparing to the others, they were clearly quicker and that's why I was very, very happy with yesterday's performance and this morning's performance,” Norris explained.
“We maximised everything and I said yesterday already that it was close between the Mercedes.
“Mercedes around every corner was pretty much just as quick as or quicker than us and they just had some issues and clearly Max and the Red Bull was also very strong as well.
“So I'm not surprised, as a team we're surprised, probably surprised we struggled as much as we did today but I don't think in terms of order and pace of the Mercedes we're surprised at all.”
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Photos from Miami GP - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Aston Martin F1 Team Garage
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Tribute to Alex Zanardi
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Zak Brown, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Flavio Briatore, Alpine
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Tribute to the late Alex Zanardi
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Mason / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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