F1 News
Norris jokes about angry Australian fans: 'I want to leave alive!'
Lando Norris managed to claim the first pole position of the season in Melbourne, just ahead of Oscar Piastri. It was the Australian who first completed his lap and jumped to provisional pole much to the liking of the fans, but the Briton then crossed the line to move up to P1.
At the press conference, Norris was asked how did he feel to disappoint the Aussie fans. "I'm pretty sad, actually," Lando Norris began with a laugh. "I'm the kind of guy that would say, yes is a bittersweet, because I'm the kind of guy that wants to not upset people."
Norris reacts to trouncing Piastri in Australia
While Norris prefers not to disappoint anyone, he does want fulfill his contract. "But, it's also my job, and it's also what I get paid to do. What's really in my contract, and I have to go out and drive as quick as I can."
Norris then compared the situation to how the Orange Army supports Max Verstappen, and how he is cheered on at not only Silverstone. "It's a difficult one because every country backs their drivers a lot. It's the same as Max in Zandvoort and Spa and Austria and all of those ones. It's the same for me wanting to go into well in my own race in Silverstone. And Belgium. Actually, I'll just claim that one, and therefore, kind of the Netherlands too," the McLaren driver smiled.
Norris appreciates Australian fans
The McLaren driver also hopes he will be able to leave Melbourne without any trouble. "At the end of the day, my job is to go out and drive the quickest I can. And if that's pole, then that's pole. I'm happy that I've done my job. But I do want to make it out of Australia and all of those things."
On a more serious note, Norris was very positive about the Australians and the way they also support him alongside Piastri. "The fans have always been very supportive of me too. I've had an Australian teammate for quite a while now, so I kinda got used to it. But, they they do cheer me on as well. I know they cheer Oscar on a lot more, but, that's expected, and I appreciate the support I do get," Norris concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Sandy van Wijngaarden
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