High tension gripped the McLaren garage as the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying session came to a close at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Massive expectations had previously filled the air after British star driver Lando Norris dominated practice sessions and topped the timesheets during a very convincing Q2 performance.
However, momentum dramatically shifted once the crucial Q3 phase got underway under the intense Mexican sun. The championship contender could only manage the sixth-fastest time, a stark contrast to the blistering pace he showcased earlier in the day.
Deep disappointment was clearly etched across the driver's face as he stepped out of his cockpit. He openly confessed that starting from sixth position was practically the maximum result achievable given how difficult the car felt to handle throughout the entire weekend.
"I do not think pole position was within our reach today, my previous lap was just a magical lap considering what our car is currently capable of delivering," Norris candidly told members of the paddock media.
The Woking-based outfit's spearhead pointed to his teammate's struggles as clear evidence of how tricky their machine is to tame in the thin high-altitude air. The fact that his teammate failed to even crack the top ten in qualifying highlighted the severe balance and grip issues currently plaguing the team.
"You can see from my teammate's grid position just how difficult this car is to drive. Therefore, I am actually quite happy with sixth place if I am being completely honest. I put together a super lap in Q2, but in Q3 I simply was not capable of repeating it because the window to pull off that lap was completely gone," he added.
Looking ahead to the upcoming main race, the multiple-time Grand Prix winner refused to set unrealistic targets against fierce rivals such as Max Verstappen. He predicted a grueling afternoon due to the machinery carrying the exact same limitations into race trim.
"I will be racing with the exact same car I had in qualifying, and it is simply not good enough. We are just not fast enough. Overtaking is certainly going to be terribly difficult out there, so I am not holding out too many high hopes," he concluded.
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