Norris 'frustrated' after missing Q3 cut due to set-up call

©McLaren

40

A frustrated Lando Norris says he was left stranded in Q2 in qualifying at Zandvoort after taking his McLaren's set-up "in the wrong direction" for the afternoon session.

Norris was outpaced in qualifying by teammate Daniel Ricciardo for the second race in succession and will line up P13 on Sunday's grid while the Aussie will start his Dutch Grand Prix from tenth position.

Norris admitted to being "frustrated" by his underperformance but acknowledged that he had made the wrong set-up call.

"I just didn't get that second attempt because of the red flags," he said. "I didn't do a good enough lap in my first attempt and just didn't make it in.

"A bit of a shame, because I think this weekend so far we've been alright, possibly went in a little bit in the wrong direction with the set-up for qualifying, but we make those mistakes sometimes.

©McLaren

"It was kind of my decision really to do what we did with the car. Maybe it didn't pay off as much as we were hoping and I didn't put the best of laps in, and it's simple as that.

"But it's close, especially with the Alfa Romeo up there, the AlphaTauris up there, the Alpines… It's just tight and close, and tough. When we don't put it all together, we end up where we did."

Dutch GP: Saturday's action in pictures

Asked if his McLaren's set-up would perhaps prove rewarding in the race, Norris said that he hopes it will, but with overtaking at a premium around Zandvoort, he expects a "tricky" afternoon.

"We know it's a qualifying-based track, so it's not like we tried to prepare for tomorrow, whether or not it's going to help or not," he added.

"On pure pace today, we maybe struggled a little bit more, so maybe it's not going to be the best thing for tomorrow. But it might be with the tyres, and tyre savings and things like that.

"Tricky, 'cause either way, even if you save the tyres one tenth a lap compared to other people, it's so difficult to overtake, it's going to be hard to do much else.

"But we'll do our best and see if we can get into the points."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.