Lando Norris suffered abysmal luck within the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix, which noticed him lose out on victory and take third place as an alternative.
Regardless of taking a stunning pole place after discovering 0.750 tenths in his ultimate Q3 run, the race didn’t fall in fairly the identical approach for Norris.
Although he staved off any challenges from Antonelli and Verstappen into flip 1 and the primary lap, Norris didn’t escape the race with no points. Overtaking remained troublesome and close to unimaginable, however when Lance Stroll struggled along with his brakes and stopped on monitor, the primary overtaking alternative arose within the pit lane.
Sadly for Norris, he was the one who caught the unsuitable aspect. The reigning champion handed the pit lane entrance moments earlier than the Digital Security Automotive was introduced out, after which, as he got here into the pits, the VSC ended.
Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli each capitalised on the VSC pit cease, and Norris then had a sluggish seven-second cease, which compounded the problem.
A ‘merciless’ consequence for Lando Norris
Zak Brown was requested about how the racing gods didn’t favour the Briton this weekend on Sky Sports activities, and Brown mentioned: “They have been merciless at present – twice!
“I imply, Lando was gone; the workforce did an incredible job. The VSC got here out a few seconds after Lando had passed by, after which went away a few seconds earlier than we pit. There’s nothing we may have achieved.
“[But] Nice to listen to Lando’s radio message; we simply shrug it off. I believe that was our race by 20-25 seconds.”
Norris informed the media, together with Motorsport Week, within the post-race press convention that whereas it’s irritating, it’s a part of racing. Drivers usually profit from VSC and Security Vehicles simply as a lot as they’re hindered by them.
Nonetheless, Brown went on to say how Norris was ‘in a league of his personal’ in Madring, and it’s a disgrace to see him lose out on that victory over one thing out of his management.
Brown acknowledged that Norris “was dominant” across the Madring. He added: “He was gone. Managing it, nice; tyre put on was nice. Yeah, he was in a league of his personal. It’s simply unlucky.
“He’s bought a trophy, nevertheless it’s a P3, not a P1.”
Kimi Antonelli echoed related sentiments after the race, saying that he believed Norris deserved the race on tempo and benefit and that Mercedes and he have been in the suitable place.
Regardless of the consequence, McLaren’s tempo in qualifying and race trim is encouraging for the remainder of the season, placing them ready to problem for extra victories sooner or later.
READ MORE: Kimi Antonelli christens the Madring with maiden F1 Spanish GP win
