Despite a solid strategy, Lando Norris finished only sixth in the Belgian Grand Prix after a disastrous first corner.
McLaren F1 had been considered a strong contender alongside Red Bull, but Norris was unable to live up to expectations. While his teammate secured a spot on the podium, the British driver had to settle for sixth place, leaving both him and the team disappointed.
How does Norris explain this underperformance?
“The strategy was sound. I believe that ultimately, the one who performed the most undercuts won the race,” he said, referring to the tactic of making early pit stops to gain track position with fresher tyres.
However, the key turning point of his race came at the very first corner: “There’s not much to say. I went wide in the first corner, and it ruined my race. That’s it.” This mistake pushed him down the order, making it significantly harder to climb back up the field.
Despite the early setback, Norris remained reflective about the race outcome. “We did what we thought was best. In hindsight, the undercut appeared to be the superior approach,” he admitted, suggesting that a different pit stop strategy might have yielded better results.
Assessing the overall performance of the car, he added: “I think the car’s pace was good. I could have been a bit more aggressive, but I was pleased otherwise.” This suggests that he saw potential in the car’s speed but felt that he might have missed opportunities to push harder during key moments.
Attempting to challenge Max Verstappen proved to be another frustration for Norris. “I tried to overtake Max, but it was impossible with his top speed and the constant DRS trains,” he noted, highlighting the difficulty of battling against a rival with a significant straight-line speed advantage.
Concluding his comments, Norris sought some time to process the outcome of the race: “Let me rest a bit after this race, and I’ll see more clearly.” A break to reflect might help him regain focus as the season continues.
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Spa First Turn Fiasco Derails Norris’ Strategy Spa First Turn Fiasco Derails Norris’ Strategy
