Lando Norris joked that having the "biggest balls" helped him storm to pole position for the 2026 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix after a thrilling qualifying session on Saturday.
The McLaren driver secured back-to-back pole positions on either side of the summer break, this time at Zandvoort. Norris was fastest in Q3, getting the better of the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The prospect of impending rain made things tricky at the start of Q3, with the heavens finally opening up on the second flying laps. Despite the conditions, Norris deemed the result unexpected.
"I don't know how much the rain, honestly, affected things. Certainly, the lap time was a bit better than I expected," he told media including Motorsport Week. "It wasn't a lap that felt mega," Norris added. "I just had to commit through everything because I knew how close it was going to be."
The Briton explained how he was overdriving his car, which in an unexpected way "paid off" for him. He also noted that McLaren's turnaround was more about understanding the car concept at this circuit.
"We've not changed those things. Our car is certainly the best in high speed, no doubt. Or I have the biggest balls, I don't know!" he joked. Looking ahead to the 72-lap race, Norris admitted the MCL40 would struggle in low-speed corners.
The 200m run up to Turn 1 will be crucial for Norris on Sunday, as track position has proven key for success this weekend.
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