McLaren’s Qualifying Struggles Hit Championship Aspirations
Baku, Azerbaijan – In a disappointing turn of events at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris delivered the team’s poorest qualifying performance of the season, compromising their chances to clinch the Constructors’ Championship.
Piastri crashed out at Turn 3 without setting a time, leaving him ninth on the grid. Norris, after hitting the exit barrier at Turn 15, managed to secure a seventh-place starting position, 1.122 seconds behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen. This marks the first occasion this season McLaren will not be represented on the front two rows.
For McLaren to secure the championship, they need to outpoint Ferrari by nine while ensuring Mercedes does not exceed a 12-point advantage. Remarkably, despite Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton being eliminated in qualifying, McLaren’s struggle means they still face an uphill battle to clinch the title if starting positions are reflected in race outcomes.
Piastri, who formerly achieved no lower than fourth in previous qualifiers, took full responsibility for his crash. “I’m never one to blame it on something other than myself,” he commented, admitting uncertainty about the cause of his incident following adjustments to his car. “Ultimately I just tried a bit too hard in Turn 3. A tiny bit can make a massive difference.”
With Piastri’s error creating an opportunity for Norris to gain vital championship points, he too could not grasp the moment. Norris acknowledged minor mistakes in strategy, particularly regarding his position in the pit lane. “It was just the wrong decision to make in the end,” Norris stated. “Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Despite entering the weekend as a strong contender, Norris expressed limited optimism regarding race pace against Red Bull’s dominance, highlighting that disrupted practice sessions left him with many unanswered questions. “I think we won’t have the pace to beat Max,” he said, emphasizing a focused approach for the race.
Both drivers remain committed to maximizing their performance in the race, distancing from championship thoughts for the time being. As Norris put it, “We’re just trying to get the best out of both cars… Tomorrow’s a new day.”
