NIGHTMARE FOR NORRIS

'Slow' Brit starts sixth as Piastri takes pole

- DANIEL MOXON

MISERABLE Lando Norris declared himself “not quick enough" after a dismal qualifying was punished by title-chasing team-mate Oscar Piastri.

McLaren were overwhelming favourites heading into qualifying, despite their poor past record in Bahrain.

And Piastri delivered their first pole position in the Gulf country, delighting the Crown Prince Salman who owns the McLaren Group through Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund.

Their joy was tempered, though, by a mistake from Norris which left him sixth.

“I'm just not quick enough,” he said. “I've been slow this whole weekend - I've just been off it.