Norris continues to fume about yellow flag: 'Don't have to be a scientist'

F1 News

Lando Norris still fuming about yellow flag incident in qualifying
15 September at 14:35
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  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Lando Norris managed to reduce his deficit to Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 World Championship after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but the Brit continues to believe something out of his control "ruined his weekend". Norris continued to fume post-race, despite almost finishing on the podium as a result of the late crash between Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz.

Norris started the Baku race on the hard tyre and completed a mega-long stint. He pitted and had enough laps to hunt down Verstappen. The two drivers had a duel on track, and Norris made the overtake. Still, Norris can't help but think about what could've been with his teammate Oscar Piastri winning the race.

Norris continues to reflect on the incident in qualifying

Norris failed to escape Q1 and had to start from P15 on the grid (he was promoted after penalties for other drivers). He still feels hard done by with the yellow flag that was created. "No, it wasn't fair. You don't have to be a scientist to work it out. I know I got a fourth today and that's not bad, but it could have been better. I think Oscar showed what was possible today. It was unfair," Norris told GPblog and others in the paddock after the race.

"There was no yellow the whole lap and they put a yellow out just as I came past. Did I go off the track just before it? Yes. Would I still easily have got into the top 15? Yes. I know there's a lot of people that thought that would ruin my lap. I was still easily in, even with my off-track. I only lost a couple of tenths and I still easily would have been in. Yes, people can say what they want. I find a lot of it funny, but this was out of my control and it was something that was unfair and cost me a good amount of points in the championship today and ruined my weekend," he continued before highlighting the pace of the McLaren car in Sunday's race made it even more disappointing.

With seven Grands Prix weekends remaining, Norris has a 59-point gap to bridge. Piastri managed to outscore Norris by 12 points, though Norris did get the fastest lap bonus.