Norris praises Verstappen after Dutchman secures stunning Suzuka pole: 'Hats off...'

09:45, 05 Apr

Updated: 09:47, 05 Apr

byToby Nixon

Lando Norris has praised Max Verstappen after the Dutchman secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Norris will start the race in second place with teammate Oscar Piastri just behind in third place.

"I'm happy. I mean, congrats to Max. He did a good job so it's a hats off. You've got to credit something when it's a lap that good that he must have done," Norris began on the grid after the conclusion of qualifying.

Norris still content with the performance

"But I mean, I'm happy because I feel like I got everything out of the car today." Norris was fastest in Q1 and seemed like the most likely polesitter. Four-time world champion Verstappen, however, had other ideas. The Red Bull driver maximised his performance and snuck into pole position at the conclusion of the session. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, finished in 15th place after struggling in Q2. Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson lines up in 14th.

For Norris, he's still happy with what McLaren managed to do, securing second and third with it all to play for on Sunday.

"For both of us to be up there, for us to be fighting for pole is good, but just not enough. I mean I dipped a wheel on the exit of (turn) seven and seven is the last place you want to make a mistake and it shows how easy it is to lose lap time.

"At the same time, my lap was very good, I'm very happy. If I was to go again I probably wouldn't go as quick as I did. So I feel like we're on the limit of what we had. We just didn't have enough today."

There is a possibility of rain tomorrow, something which Norris is looking forward to facing. "No one knows what the weather is going to do tomorrow, so it could be another race like Australia, it could be an exciting race. Of course, we want to try to get past Max, but he's going to put up a good fight. But I've been there before, so I'm excited for it," he concluded.