The last Britron on the grid, Haas driver Oliver Beerman, will begin lasting a difficult weekend.
His gear box failed in his first lap out of the pit in qualifying, after the other practice accident and the final session wandered in gravel, he took a track time at the beginning of his first season.
Of the six dualists on the grid, the most impressive performance has come from Brazil’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who, with his veteran Sobar team fellow Nico Holkinberg, stood with 15th position, with two places.
Noris was happy with his performance but his main concern was the race, which is forecast for rain.
He said: “This is the best way to start the year. Everyone in MacLaran has done amazing work to start with one two, but it’s just qualifying, let’s see tomorrow, it’s going to be a difficult race but it’s a good way to start.
“The car is very fast and it is incredible when you keep it together but it is difficult to keep it together.
“Especially after the first lap, when I went and lost in my lap, you are in a difficult position – you need to take the risk of it but not too far because you can’t make a mistake. This is a difficult balance. We know how quickly Max and Red Bills are in the rain.”
Verstepen said he was not sure he could distinguish from defeating MacLarns even with the perfect lap.
“It was very difficult tomorrow, so staying in P3, I take it,” he said. “The qualifying laps were very interesting, there were very good grip and some sharp corners around so that the F -1 car always enjoyed.
“In the end, the gap was bigger for them, so it doesn’t matter in terms of position. Wet or dry, I don’t mind, but there can be many crazy things in the wet.”
Beerman practically destroyed his mistakes when he digested his weekend.
“I have made my life very difficult by doing this problem in practical sessions and with the gear box,” he said.
