MCLAREN ‘HOPED FOR A BIT MORE’ IN QUALIFYING – NORRIS

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri admitted they "hoped for a bit more" after qualifying P6 and P7 for the Austrian Grand Prix. Despite showing stronger pace earlier in the weekend, including topping FP2, the team couldn't match the Q3 performance of Mercedes and Ferrari when it counted.

Norris felt his final lap was decent but conceded rivals often save more for qualifying, pushing McLaren "further down the order than what we would have liked." He highlighted the team's ongoing struggles with temperature control but remained hopeful the hot race conditions could play to their advantage. Piastri echoed his teammate, acknowledging some frustration at slipping back but concluded P7 likely reflects McLaren's current performance ceiling. Both drivers remain optimistic for Sunday, banking on strategic opportunities and a traditionally eventful Austrian Grand Prix to challenge for a podium finish.