The cars rolled out for the formation lap under the lights in Lusail, and all eyes were on Lando Norris — who today becomes McLaren’s longest-serving Formula 1 driver with 151 race starts for the team. A landmark moment in his young career, and one that now fuels a bigger question: can he finally become McLaren’s first world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008?
As Norris led the pack around the Losail Circuit, the starting-tyre strategy also became clear. The entire top 10 will begin on medium tyres, sticking to the expected plan for optimal opening-stint balance.
Further down the grid, a few drivers opted for aggressive alternatives. Nico Hülkenberg and Lewis Hamilton will start on softs, hoping to gain ground immediately off the line. Meanwhile, Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto have chosen hard tyres, targeting a long first stint and late-race flexibility.
With Norris starting from the front row on a day of personal history, McLaren fans will hope this milestone turns into something even bigger under the Qatari night sky. The lights are moments away — and the story is just beginning.