Lando Norris experiences a disappointing Formula 1 setback in Baku
Poor Lando Norris from McLaren took a massive hit in his chase against Max Verstappen for the World Championship title at the Baku Grand Prix. Failing to advance past the initial elimination round of qualifying, Norris will start way back in 17th position, while even underperforming Verstappen managed to secure a 6th spot on the starting grid. Charles Leclerc was the real showstopper, bagging pole position for the fourth consecutive time in Baku with his Ferrari.
Oscar Piastri, Norris' teammate, showcased the McLaren's true potential. Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari and Sergio Perez from Red Bull even outdid their teammates, just missing out on taking the first three spots.
Norris' first lap wasn't exactly blazing fast during the initial elimination round, and he gambled on ramping things up in the second attempt. Unfortunately, a yellow flag came his way – a following driver had a tire malfunction, forcing Norris to slow down. This mishap kept him out of the top 15 drivers' second qualifying round.
Norris shared his frustrations with Sky: "I was counting on the second lap, but had to tap the brakes. It's disheartening, but I can't do anything about it now. I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for a little miracle on Sunday. It's going to be a long race, and my car's quick."
Nico Hülkenberg moved forward to the second qualifying round in the Haas, but then got a taste of disappointment: he managed to only secure the 14th spot, while his replacement Oliver Bearman ended up in 11th. Bearman joined the Haas team temporarily, replacing Kevin Magnussen due to his suspension.
Despite the team's potential shown by Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris' Formula 1 race at Baku Grand Prix took a turn for the worse. Starting from 17th position due to his qualifying performance, Norris will have a challenging task to overcome during the race.
