How Lando Norris Shocked the F1 Grid and Gave McLaren its First F1 Pole in 9 Years

Lando Norris has been McLaren’s shining star for most of the season, taking four podiums, but in Italy it was Daniel Ricciardo who ended the team’s nine-year wait for a win.

Norris, who has spent his entire Formula 1 career at McLaren, dutifully revelled in the team’s celebrations 13 days ago but on Saturday at the Russian Grand Prix it was his turn to be center stage. Norris claimed a surprise pole position in a wet/dry qualifying session at the Sochi Autodrom, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz an improbable second, and Williams’ George Russell an equally unexpected third.

It was not only the first pole position in Formula 1 for third-season driver Norris but also ended McLaren’s 3,227-day wait to take top spot in the Saturday shootout session.

McLaren's last pole in Formula 1 was by Lewis Hamilton at Brazil in 2012.

But how did it happen?

Max Verstappen, winner of eight of the 14 poles in 2021, entered the day knowing he’d start last due to an engine penalty, so completed just an installation lap to ensure he qualified.

Charles Leclerc, who has claimed two pole positions this year, was in a similar predicament.

And then there was the weather. Heavy rain lashed Sochi Autodrom through Saturday, forcing the cancellation of final practice, with support events Formula 2 and Formula 3 also binned. It is the worst weather Formula 1 has experienced at the coastal venue since Sochi joined the schedule in 2014.

Conditions improved in time for qualifying to begin on schedule and drivers needed the mixed-weather Intermediate tyres for most of the three-stage session.