Lando Norris has reached a significant milestone in his Formula 1® career by becoming the sixth driver to qualify for Q3 in 40 consecutive Grands Prix. This achievement was marked during the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, highlighting Norris’s consistent performance in qualifying sessions despite the challenges faced by McLaren in the 2026 season.
Norris’s streak began at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, where he secured pole position, and has continued uninterrupted since then. Over this period, his lowest Q3 qualifying position was eighth place at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix. This consistency places him among some of the most reliable qualifiers in the history of the sport.
The record for the most consecutive Q3 appearances is held by Valtteri Bottas, who made it into Q3 for 103 straight races from the 2017 Australian Grand Prix until the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Bottas’s streak ended after his move from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo in 2022, and he currently races for Cadillac. Other notable drivers in this elite group include Lewis Hamilton with 66 consecutive Q3 appearances, Nico Rosberg with 60, Kimi Raikkonen with 53, and Sebastian Vettel with 41. Vettel’s streak started at the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and included 25 pole positions.
These consecutive Q3 appearances underline the difficulty of maintaining top qualifying form across multiple seasons and different team environments. Norris’s achievement is particularly notable given McLaren’s relatively modest competitiveness during the 2026 season. His ability to consistently reach the final qualifying segment demonstrates both his skill and adaptability in a highly competitive field.
While qualifying consistency does not necessarily translate to race wins or championships, it remains a key indicator of a driver’s pace and performance under pressure. The drivers who have reached 40 or more consecutive Q3 sessions represent a rare level of sustained excellence in Formula 1® qualifying.
Lando Norris’s entry into this exclusive club reflects his growing stature within the sport and adds a new chapter to McLaren’s recent history. As the 2026 season progresses, his streak will be one to watch, alongside the records set by his predecessors in this category.
