Norris left rueing what could've been in Italy: 'That wasn't possible'

F1 News

Lando Norris left rueing result in Italian Grand Prix
1 September at 15:23
6
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Lando Norris had the chance to take a big chunk out of Max Verstappen's World Championship lead, but the Brit will be left rueing what could've been in Italy. Norris still made ground on Verstappen, but it wasn't as big as it could've been. 

Painful moment for McLaren and Norris

Norris started from pole but lost out to his teammate on the opening lap. Oscar Piastri's move at the chicane left the door open for Charles Leclerc to overtake as well. The Woking-based team lost control of the race and then decided to go for a two stop whereas Ferrari opted for the onestop. Norris suggests that wasn't possible for McLaren.

"We considered it [one stop] the whole race but was not possible with the amount of graining. With our car and the limitations we have, it wasn't possible today. We're disasppointed. Ferrari did a better job," Norris said before bluntly replying to a question about how Piastri and others are stopping him catch up Verstappen in the championship: "Well done to Piastri, he got passed me and deserved it."

Norris also reflected on the start where Piastri got through. "Of course [it caught me by surprise], because he got through. I don't know what I should've done differently, if I braked one meter later, we probably would've crashed. Ferrari drove a better race today, Leclerc did a better job," Norris added.