Lando Norris qualified his McLaren sixth at Sepang but will actually start fifth after Isack Hadjar copped a five-place grid penalty for an engine change. Small consolation for the Briton, who ended up six tenths off Verstappen’s pole time — a gap he didn’t try to spin into something rosier.

“There’s not a lot I can do about that. I can only be satisfied with my own job. Yes, we’re a long way off the pace but it’s just the way it is,” Norris said flatly. He admitted he’d expected Mercedes to be quicker this weekend, but the real surprise came from elsewhere: “It’s been surprising to see how quick the Red Bulls have been all weekend.” His own lap, at least, gave him nothing to complain about — he reckoned his sectors and final attempt came together cleanly.

Sunday doesn’t look any brighter from where he’s sitting: “We’re still six tenths off the pace, off of Max, and it’s clear that the Red Bull is also a quick car with Isack up there. My car is still slow on the straights for some reason so it’s still going to be a tough race for me.” Teammate Oscar Piastri qualified seventh, right behind Norris, and pinned his own shortfall on a lack of grip through Turn 2 on his final lap.

Source: Formula1.com (https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/norris-admits-mclaren-a-long-way-off-the-pace-after-tough-qualifying-in-malaysia.s821hQJMmeebtQF8Bn5vC)