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Norris: Not expecting to be fighting for pole

Jad Mallak

Norris: Not expecting to be fighting for pole

Lando Norris was second fastest as Formula 1 running was concluded on Friday for the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix, but the Briton is under no illusions that he would be fighting for pole.

Norris ended FP2 two tenths off the pace of Ferrari’s Charles Lerclerc, as Daniel Ricciardo also seemed to be in better form finishing fifth fastest.

However, the young McLaren driver is well aware that he will not be fighting for pole position on Saturday afternoon.

“Things are feeling good,” Norris told Sky Sports F1. “The car is in a good place and seems to be suiting this track or characteristic a bit more for sure but we are always a little bit quicker- in P2 than we are normally.

“We turn up a bit more than others do to get our first reading for Qualifying,” he revealed, “which is what we got today but Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes normally step it up a lot for tomorrow.

“We are probably a little bit ahead of where we were in Paul Ricard but I am not expecting to be fighting for pole or anything,” the realistic Norris concluded.

Sorry to the fans, no pole for McLaren in Hungary

Daniel Ricciardo echoes his teammate’s comments saying: “I don’t think we’re competitive enough to fight for a pole, sorry to the fans.

“I think we’ve certainly hit the ground running and we will look into what happens with the car tonight and do a few bits and pieces for sure,” he added.

“I have no reason to say we can’t fight for the front tomorrow but it’s only been a week since Le Castellet and you can only change so much,” Ricciardo pointed out.

“Maybe the track does suit us a bit more and I’m sure that we’ve made a step but probably not that much of a step. Nonetheless a really good day,” the Honey Badger concluded.

The positive for McLaren after Friday at the Hungaroring is that they appeared to be more competitive than Alpine, with whom they are locked in a fight for fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, the advantage now being with the French team by four points only.