Of all the occasions to have a qualifying session when things just don’t click, Lando Norris’s timing could hardly have been worse.
The gap between the McLaren man and Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings currently sits at 76 points. Hefty, yes. But not insurmountable with 11 races to go. Certainly not when you’re in the best car on the grid, as Norris is widely considered to be.
And with Verstappen facing a 10-place grid penalty in Spa, now was the time for Norris to pounce and give himself the best opportunity of taking an almighty chunk out of the Dutchman’s advantage.
But rather than damage maximisation from Norris, it was a day of damage limitation from Verstappen. He stole the show in qualifying by conquering the treacherous conditions left by the rain that swept over the Ardennes region.
Nearly six tenths of a second quicker than any other driver, the amphibious Verstappen claimed pole at a canter. He will, of course, start 11th when lights go out later today/tomorrow, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the front of the grid.
Lando Norris (pictured) failed to capitalise on Verstappen’s grid penalty, coming fifth in Spa qualifying
With Verstappen facing a 10-place grid penalty in Spa, now was the time for Norris (pictured) to pounce
Norris would have hoped it was he who was swapping places with Verstappen (centre)
Norris would have hoped it was he who was swapping places with Verstappen. But rather than fly like he has done in the wet previously this season, Norris faltered.
Lacking confidence in his car, Norris could only post the fifth-quickest time, meaning he will start on the second row in fourth with a sense that an opportunity had been missed.
‘As good as I could do today,’ Norris told his race engineer.
Elaborating further on his underwhelming performance, he said: ‘I’ve not been able to click very well today, I was always one step behind and a little bit on the back foot.
‘I was struggling a lot out there, honestly. A little bit of confidence and high speed.
‘I was a little bit more confident at the end of Friday, but for some reason this whole weekend I’ve just not clicked as much as what I have felt like I’ve done in the previous races.
‘It feels like I haven’t had to try very hard to understand how to drive the car in every corner.
‘The last few weeks and months it has just come a lot more naturally. It’s just one of those weekends so far where you’re struggling to get that nice natural feeling.’
When asked if he saw enough in his car’s performance to convince him he could still win Sunday’s race, Norris said: ‘That’s the target’. Not one to bet your house on by the sounds of it, then.
Verstappen (pictured), meanwhile, knows he still faces a mammoth job over 44 laps to further dampen Norris’ spirits
Wet conditions in Belgium scuttled Norris’ pole ambitions ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix
Verstappen (pictured) is 76 points ahead in the drivers’ championship, but Norris to catch him
Verstappen, meanwhile, knows he still faces a mammoth job over 44 laps to further dampen Norris’ spirits.
‘Looking at McLaren’s pace in practice, it was incredibly strong and they look comfortable out there,’ said the reigning world champion.
‘Yes, they are starting slightly further back but they are so fast they will quickly challenge for the front and the lead.
‘For me, it depends how I get through the first lap. It is definitely still damage limitation.’
But it was Norris who went to sleep on Saturday wondering whether McLaren’s failure to fully capitalise on the open goal in front of them would come back to haunt them.
That has happened all too many times in a season which Norris could have had seven race wins to his name by now. Instead, he has just one.
Botched strategies cost him glory in Canada and at Silverstone. Norris was to blame in Spain, where he had the fastest car but was beaten off the line by Verstappen and George Russell, before an avoidable collision with the reigning world champion led to an early retirement in Austria.
Norris had to allow McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri (pictured) to pass him in accord with team orders, in last week’s Austrian Grand Prix
Last weekend, team orders saw Norris pass a race win to Oscar Piastri in the name of being a team player. And don’t forget Imola either, where he was pipped to the line by less than a second.
In a season which has thrown up seven different winners, the most since 2012, these were missed opportunities for Norris to slay the mighty Bulls. Instead, that knife has been blunted by false dawns and fine margins.
Norris will dearly hope he claims victory to ensure Sunday’s damp squib is not the latest instalment in that series.