In a stunning turn of events, Norris went from being hailed as a hero to facing defeat in less than 24 hours. This sudden downfall occurred after he secured an impressive pole position for the Sprint Race in China on Friday.
However, his compatriot Hamilton swiftly challenged Norris as soon as the race began. The two drivers fiercely battled for the lead, racing side by side through the first corners. Unfortunately, Norris lost the fight, veering off the track and rejoining the race in seventh place. He ultimately finished in sixth position after Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin retired due to a puncture.
Expressing his disappointment, Norris admitted, “I simply lost control, there’s nothing more to say. I attempted to maintain my position on the outside, but due to the conditions of the tarmac, I slightly veered off track. The tires were not at their optimal temperature, and I lost control of the rear of the car.”
He continued, “It’s a shame, but these things happen. It’s a bit frustrating, but regardless, our pace was lacking. I was barely able to keep up with the DRS, otherwise, I would have fallen far behind. Our performance was subpar, and towards the end, I sustained some damage.”
For McLaren and Norris, this outcome was undoubtedly disappointing, especially after their strong showing in qualifying. Reflecting on the race, the British driver added, “It was a challenging race, not what we had hoped for. However, I believe we would have ended up in a similar position even if we had scored a few more points. Lewis, on the other hand, managed to secure a much larger advantage. They were faster than us, but not by much.”
He concluded, “There were definitely more points up for grabs, but unfortunately, a few mistakes on my part cost me.” Norris, who expressed his apologies to his team over the radio, will now focus on the upcoming qualifying session in hopes of bouncing back and achieving a better result in the grand prix on Sunday.
Moving forward, McLaren remains determined to put this setback behind them and focus on the next challenge. 👊#ChineseGP 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/TjahQwDW6N
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 20, 2024