Lando Norris Falls Short in Q3, Starts Fourth at Imola GP

Lando Norris will start fourth on the grid for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after a difficult qualifying session at Imola. The McLaren driver said he was not satisfied with his performance in Q3 and admitted to making several mistakes during the session.

Norris finished behind his team-mate Oscar Piastri, who won pole, as well as Max Verstappen and George Russell. Piastri scored his third pole of the season and was nearly three tenths of a second ahead of Norris in the final session.

Norris told reporters that he struggled to improve in Q3, saying, “Never good enough in my final lap in quali. Everyone goes quicker and I always go slower. Just not good enough.” He also said that none of his Q3 sessions in 2025 had been strong enough.

This result leaves Norris trailing Piastri in their head-to-head qualifying battle this season by four to three. Despite the result, Norris refused to blame the McLaren MCL39 for his difficulties.

He explained that the car felt good through practice and the earlier stages of qualifying but that the final run did not come together as it should. Norris said that qualifying had been his biggest strength in previous years, but this season he feels like things are not working how he wants.

He mentioned that the team has some understanding of the issues but said he still wants to be competing for pole positions and is not fully happy with his form so far. Norris is not giving up on his hopes for the race at Imola.

He pointed out that McLaren’s recent performances with tire management have been strong and suggested that race day could offer opportunities to gain places. Norris said that if tire wear is high, McLaren’s strategy and ability to look after the tires could help him try different strategies like overcuts or undercuts against the cars ahead.

He believes working together with the team is important for finding more speed and closing the gap in future sessions. Despite the setbacks in qualifying, Norris remains positive about what’s ahead.

He continues to push for more pace and thinks improvements are possible over the remaining race weekend. With seven rounds of qualifying now complete in 2025, Norris has consistently been in the fight at the front but says he is determined to turn strong practice pace into better starting positions.

The team is working hard to understand what they can do differently and help Norris reach the goals he has set for himself. McLaren heads into the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix looking for another strong performance after their recent successes.

Norris and Piastri have collected points in every race so far this season, helping McLaren climb up the Constructors’ standings. Norris hopes to make the most of strategy calls and tire performance at Imola, aiming to add to McLaren’s tally.

The race will mark another chapter in the growing rivalry between Norris and Piastri and show how McLaren’s improvements can translate to results on track. Fans will be watching to see if Norris can capitalize on the team’s strengths and move up from his P4 starting spot on race day.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promises plenty of action as McLaren continues to challenge Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull in the fight at the front of the field. For a closer look at the competition, check out the F1 Imola GP watch for live updates and analysis.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.