“We didn’t think we’d be even in Q3,” Lando Norris optimistic after a strong qualifying session

Lando Norris is starting P8 on Maimi’s Sunday. But he thinks he could have ended his Saturday on a much better note if it was not for the mistake he made that ended his lap a couple of tenths slower. He could have easily ended himself on P6, replacing Sir Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren in the first few races had a pretty decent start. With a podium last weekend in Imola they got on the points graph exponentially. They are fourth in the constructor’s championship with 45 points.

But with the position the Brit team are for Miami, Lando was annoyed but is optimistic to gain what they lost on the day that matters, Sunday.

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“So a bit annoyed about that, but nevertheless I’m still happy. It was a tough day. I think we made good progress all weekend from where we were. We didn’t think we’d be even in Q3, so I’m happy, and a good chance for us to score some points tomorrow.”

Expectations from McLaren duo Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo

Lando Norris's Mclaren — McLaren MCL36, is returned to the garage rear

With the Young Brit starting from P8 and Daniel Ricciardo starting on P14, there is still a chance for the team to back some points. It will actually be tough for the Aussie to get that Mclaren where it actually belongs. He has not been able to outqualify his teammate for 9 races now.

He blamed it for the late call from the garage to go on the track that caused him a place higher than 14. “Q1 we were looking all right, Q1 there were no issues, and then Q2 ultimately the last run we had an issue in the garage so we couldn’t get out.”

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Later when he got on the track he was not to get his tyres at a proper temperature to get a quick lap done. “We finally did get out, but it was with I think two-seconds margin to the flag, so we had to push on the out-lap and couldn’t do tyre prep.”

The hopes for the weekend in that Mclaren garage should be huge because the car is capable to get on that podium and they would hope to get that done this weekend as well.

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