Lando Norris evoked Nico Rosberg, who slayed Lewis Hamilton and retired as undefeated world champion five days later.

‘It is sometimes good to go out on a high like Nico did,’ reasoned Norris before the qualifying session at the Dutch Grand Prix, a reminder of the stakes involved.

‘Just one championship. You don’t have to do anymore. You achieved a little goal and go and live an amazing life.’

Would the idea of stepping back from a lucrative £30million a year, as Rosberg chose to do in 2016, appeal to Norris if he ends up victorious over his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in their title contest?

‘I don’t know,’ he said, smiling. ‘Maybe. I might not be here next year. You never know.’

Norris knows he needs to secure the win before any decisions are made. That objective was not straightforward during the wind-swept qualifying in Zandvoort, as he was narrowly beaten to pole by Piastri, losing by a mere 0.012 seconds.

Lando Norris, 25, has hinted he may retire from F1 if he were to win the Driver’s Championship

The Brit missed out on pole to his McLaren team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri at the Dutch GP

Norris will still start from the front row, so not all hopes are dashed. It’s worth noting that since the track’s reintroduction in 2021, only pole sitters have ultimately clinched victory. Max Verstappen has won here three times, up until Norris interrupted that streak last year (though he had to overtake Verstappen at the start to do so).

‘It’s going to take some magic or some good strategy,’ acknowledged Norris, knowing that overtaking chances here are as tight as on a country lane.

Missing out on pole came as a surprise. Norris had dominated the practice sessions, leading the timesheets in all three on a track he favors.

However, Piastri was quietly building momentum, with his usual precision and timing. ‘This is truly peaking at the right moment,’ stated the Australian, who holds a nine-point lead over Norris as they embark on the first of 10 post-summer break races.

Piastri’s 1min 0.662sec was the fleetest time ever around Zandvoort’s asphalt, across which a fox hopped midway through the session. Although he could not improve on that first flying lap, nor could Norris, the gusts blowing in off the North Sea playing their disruptive part.

Norris was clearly disappointed as he talked through qualifying with Piastri, knowing his easiest route to a fourth win in five grands prix had closed. But he believes he is fresh after the Formula One’s hiatus.

He played golf nearly daily during a well-travelled holiday. ‘I went to Ibiza,’ he revealed. ‘I was in Amsterdam for a day, a golf trip, went to Portugal, went to Saudi.

‘That’s one of the nice things. I’m fortunate I can kind of do what I want to do. I can say yes to things; I can say no to things. I guess that’s part of everything I do.

‘It is sometimes good to go out when you’ve won like Nico [Rosberg],’ reasoned Norris

‘I am back and excited to be at the sharp end of the season. It feels more real to be fighting for a championship for the first time.

‘Now a few points here or there, or a few positions back, feel like they will hurt you more. But the pressure is no bigger because for a while it has been just me and Oscar.

‘You want to do more than ever before to make sure you’ve covered every bit of preparation, strategy, option, car set-up. That’s the more taxing, stressful, draining part of it.’

But he still loves motor racing regardless of all its demands? Is it still fun?

‘One hundred per cent,’ he said. ‘I started racing at the beginning of my life because I enjoyed it, not because I knew I’d be in Formula One and be paid well.

‘It’s the same now. There are a lot of amazing bonuses. You travel the world and meet some amazing people. The more I enjoy it, the harder it makes me work. The more I work, the better the results.

‘So, it’s an important upward spiral you want to get into.

‘When you lose it… even Rory (McIlroy) said it after winning the Masters that that was his life goal achieved. That can be it for some people. Not everyone enjoys the things that come after as much, especially Lewis (Hamilton).

Norris currently has at least two years left on his £30million-per-year contract with McLaren

‘He’s won so much. He has the title of being one of best ever. And if he’s not winning, it’s hard.

‘That’s why it can be good to go out when you are on top.’

Back to the nuts and bolts of qualifying, Verstappen, the conjurer at the summit for so long, was third quickest for Red Bull. He will share the second row with Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who was an impressive fourth. The 20-year-old Frenchman is the star rookie of the year, no doubt.

George Russell will start fifth for Mercedes, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, 0.678sec off the top, was sixth best, a place ahead of his aforementioned team-mate Hamilton, who was a further 0.050sec back.

Seventh for Hamilton? An improvement on his torment in Hungary three weeks ago, so no threats to quit this time, nine long years after Rosberg headed for Monaco’s hills.