Norris frustrated after Brazil: 'I was just slow'

  • Published on 21 Nov 2019 13:02
  • comments 0
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Lando Norris has admitted disappointment over his race in Brazil, stating that he was simply "slow".

The McLaren driver crossed the line in eighth place, while teammate Carlos Sainz went from the back of the grid to P4 - which eventually turned into P3 due to a penalty for Lewis Hamilton.

MORESainz in shock over 'weird' but 'special' first podium | McLaren now uncatchable for fourth in constructors' standings

Norris moved aside for Sainz in the second half of the race and didn't fight his teammate for position, which received praise from the team after the race. 

"What you did with Carlos was massively helpful to Carlos' result as well, and that's noted from us all here," Norris' race engineer Will Joseph said over the radio post-race.

"Yeah but I don't do it out of choice," Norris responded. "I do it because I'm fucking slow."

On lap 27 of the race, Norris made his first pit stop, swapping the soft compound for the hard tyre. 

Norris would pit later in the race when a safety car was deployed for Valtteri Bottas, who parked at the side of the road after suffering a problem with his engine.

The 20-year-old stated that his biggest problem during the race was getting the hard compound to work, as his opening and final stints were strong.

"The first and final stints were good," Norris said of his race. "We had good pace, I think it was just hard for overtaking. Especially when you were in a DRS train, it was very tough.

"We are not the quickest on the straight either, so that made it doubly hard. But our biggest problem today was on the second stint when I boxed onto the hard tyres.

"I had two good laps even without pushing too much, then I was just slow. I didn't know what was going on but the hard tyre just didn't work today on the car with the conditions. I dropped back a lot and lost a lot of time and I just didn't know what was going on.

Norris added that his race outcome could've been either "better or worse" following the disorder that took place in the final laps, which saw a number of cars come into contact. 

"The final few stints were when the chaos started so, it could've been better or it could've been worse," Norris said. 

"From what I felt like what I could do it was a reasonable job but the middle stint was so painful that I just didn't have the pace. I wanted to go forward to overtake but I just went backwards. It's just something I need to look into for next time."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team McLaren
  • Points 1,007
  • Podiums 26
  • Grand Prix 128
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Nov 13 1999 (25)
  • Place of b. Glastonbury, GB
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.7 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar