A mere 0.084 seconds split Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in qualifying for Formula 1's 2025 season opener in Australia, a minuscule stitch in time that converted the home fans' raucous fervour into a palpable tinge of disappointment. Even Norris admitted to a fleeting feeling of internalised guilt that he'd denied the Australian spectators the chance to see their local hero clinch pole at Albert Park.
It truly was only a minor wrinkle in time that separated McLaren's two charges, having barely ever strayed from a tenth of each other across the entire lap. Even in the same car, it's amazing how two drivers can have their own individual styles and operate with very different inputs – and end up separated by barely the blink of an eye.
