Data analysis: How Verstappen lost time to Norris in Australian GP pole fight

The first qualifying session of the year saw McLaren produce a statement performance as it locked out the front row for the start of the Australian Grand Prix.

Lando Norris claimed the first pole position of the season in what proved to be an exciting session.

The Briton bested his team-mate Oscar Piastri to the top spot with very little to separate the McLaren duo. Behind the Woking-based squad, however, a big gap was present.

Max Verstappen was third fastest for Red Bull. In the initial runs, it seemed Verstappen was in the hunt for pole position before McLaren augmented the gap on their final laps.

The Dutchman's best effort was almost four-tenths of a second down on Norris, with even McLaren admitting surprise over how strong its car performed around the Albert Park Circuit.

But where did Norris eke out the gap to Verstappen throughout the lap?

Red Bull's biggest downfall during the session was its tyres. Verstappen complained during the day of being unable to keep his tyre temperatures under control.

It ended up costing him in the final sector as up to that point, Verstappen was neck and neck with Norris for the fastest lap. The significant time loss in sector three is something that also occurred during previous runs.

McLaren has long been strong with its tyres - both across a single lap and ensuring their longevity during a grand prix.

In fact, the struggles in the final sector are not solely limited to Red Bull as many others lost time in the final complex of corners. Norris recorded a 32.1 in the third sector, while the rest posted at least a 32.4.

In terms of setup, interesting choices can also be observed. Verstappen had the highest top speed of anyone in qualifying, indicating that Red Bull is running less downforce than McLaren. 

Norris and Piastri hung at the bottom of the list. Whether it will benefit Verstappen on Sunday, however, remains to be seen. A lot of rain is predicted, placing added necessity on mechanical grip and downforce.

Verstappen himself is also in the dark about the race due to his lack of laps in the representative second free practice.

Ultimately, McLaren has dealt a big blow to the competition. While Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari are struggling with the Pirelli rubber, Norris and Piastri can boast a healthy advantage. 

It's bound to scare the competition, although the picture could be completely altered by the Sunday rain.