F1 News
Norris starts P5 and potentially P4: "Hopefully I'll keep others behind"
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
McLaren rookie Lando Norris has put in yet another blinder of a qualifying performance as the teenager qualified in sixth and moved up to fifth because of a grid penalty for Kevin Magnussen, as the Brit hopes to keep certain drivers behind him on Sunday.
The 19-year-old could even be bumped up to fourth on the grid, as Lewis Hamilton is currently under investigation for impeding Kimi Raikkonen. Norris' fellow countryman could receive a grid penalty from P2, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
With drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Pierre Gasly and potentially Hamilton behind him, Norris is aware of the threat of losing positions, although he backs his team to do well on Sunday.
"We as a team can be happy," he told Sky Sports F1.
"We kept up our pace from Paul Ricard. I need to do my homework tonight and hopefully come back strong tomorrow."
Last week in France, Norris also surprised many by qualifying in fifth, but that race ended with him having mechanical issues and losing places in the final lap, eventually dropping to P9.
"Just like last weekend, I want to stay out of harm's way. Our race pace is pretty good. Hopefully I'll keep the others behind. There is a Ferrari behind so it will be tough."