Qatar Grand Prix: McLaren’s Strategic Misstep Costs Norris in Title Chase
Lando Norris finished fourth at the Qatar Grand Prix, a disappointing result that interrupted a streak of strong top-three finishes crucial for the championship battle. The outcome was significantly influenced by McLaren’s decision-making during an early safety car period, whereby both Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri stayed out on track while the rest of the field pitted, including race winner Max Verstappen.
As a result, Norris’ championship lead diminished to just 12 points over Carlos Sainz, who managed to maintain his position despite Norris’ efforts to overtake. Reflecting on the team’s strategy, Norris stated, “The car was good, Oscar finished second and was very quick… we shouldn’t have done what we did. Simple as that.”
Norris acknowledged the challenging weekend, saying, “It wasn’t our finest day… Everyone has bad weekends. I take it on the chin.” He emphasized that while the decision to stay out was a mistake, he couldn’t overrule the team’s call, asserting faith in their judgment.
Looking ahead, Norris remains optimistic about his recent performance, having consistently finished ahead of Piastri in the previous seven races. “I’m still happy… we’ll see what we can do next weekend,” he concluded, indicating his intent to rebound in the upcoming events.
