“We are getting closer” - Lando Norris optimistic but cautious after impressive Imola Qualifying performance

McLaren driver Lando Norris claimed that as a team they were 'getting closer' after finishing P3 in the Imola Grand Prix qualifying session behind Max Verstappen and his teammate Oscar Piastri. The recent F1 winner was almost a tenth behind the fastest lap set by the Red Bull driver and stated that his position wasn't that bad.

The British driver finished ahead of the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz and will start the race in P2 after Piastri was given a three-place penalty for blocking Kevin Magnussen.

Speaking to F1TV in his post-race interview, Lando Norris spoke about the tiny margins in the qualifying session on Saturday and how, as a team, they have progressed and are now challenging for pole positions and race wins. He said:

"P3 is not a bad job at all. Within a tenth both of us for P1. Tiny margins but for us as a team we have had a great weekend. Oscar did a great job and so did Max. Exciting. I can't wait for tomorrow. We are getting closer. To be ahead of Ferrari is also a nice result for us.

"It's going to be close, it's going to be a good race tomorrow. Hopefully, it's an exciting one. Tough, especially when the lap times are so tight. A lot of it is down to Lap One, strategy and the pit stops. It's going to be a tough race."

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Lando Norris analyzes his chances of going toe-to-toe against Max Verstappen on Sunday

Lando Norris stated that he was hoping that as a team they could keep Red Bull and Max Verstappen on their toes as he predicted that overtaking might be difficult at the Imola circuit.

In his post-race press conference, the McLaren driver said:

"The whole weekend, the car has been performing well and the team have been doing a good job. But I don't expect us just to have like an easy day tomorrow. I think to overtake here is pretty much impossible, like I said. So that's our first task.

"But at the same time, if we can pressure them and kind of keep on their toes throughout the whole race and have a performance like Miami, then I think we can be optimistic, of course. But just the overtaking and the strategy is probably a bit harder than what was in Miami."

Lando Norris would hope that he doesn't have to wait as long to get his second victory in the sport, as he did for his first one in Miami. F1 fans all around the world would hope that he can replicate his performance from the last race and take the fight to Max Verstappen on Sunday once again.