‘He (Max) drove well, he got bit lucky’: Lando Norris terms Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen’s Sao Paulo win as lucky | Motor-sport News
Three-time Formula One champion and defending champion Max Verstappen might have become the first Formula One driver since Kimi Raikkonen’s 17th place start in the Japanese Grand Prix in 2005 to win the rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix starting at the same spot, but the Red Bull driver was termed as ‘lucky’ pole position holder and second-placed in the point l Lando Norris.
24-year-old Norris, who started on the pole position and now trails the Red Bull driver 62 points with three races and one sprint race left, was under investigation post-race for breaching the start procedure on the second formation lap after a crash on the formation lap, and finished sixth in the race.
The rain-soaked race saw Verstappen benefitting from the race stoppage after the 28th lap with both Norris and leader George Russel pitting before the red flag and dropping places. Verstappen made use of the red flag to change his tyres and resumed without losing his second spot.
“They [Red Bull] got lucky. A rule [changing tyres during red flag] no one agrees with, they agree with it today, but every driver disagreed with it in the past. Today it benefited them, it could’ve benefited us if we stayed out – but that’s a stupid thing to think. A bit unlucky today, nothing more. Disappointed with the result, it could have been better but we’ll keep pushing. He [Max] drove well, he got a bit lucky!” Norris told Sky Sports post the race.
On Monday, Norris was fined 5,000 Euros FIA for the breach on the second formation lap. With Verstappen having a lead of 62 points over Norris with three races and one sprint race remaining, the McLaren driver needs to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix to keep his title hopes alive with other permutations and combinations coming into play post that. Norris shared his thoughts with F1 TV about the red flag incident post the race.
“It’s unfortunate, sometimes it just goes your way. Nothing we did wrong. Staying out was not the right thing to do, it shouldn’t have been red-flagged, it was the crash in the end which caused the red [flag]. That’s life sometimes, You take a gamble, it’s paid off for them. It’s not talent, it’s just luck. Just a bit unlucky this week. A wet start is a bit of a gamble. It will go your way one day, the other day not. The left side was a bit better than the right side. That didn’t change much. All of our position losses were under the red flag with the free pit stop for the others. It’s unfortunate, nothing more. It was a tough day, I did my best. I’ve had a lot of good races, it was about time something didn’t go right.” said Norris.
Verstappen, though, took a dig at the British press in the post-race media call. During the Mexican Grand Prix, Verstappen had forced Norris off the track twice in opening stages with some British broadcasters questioning the Dutchman’s driving. “I have a quick question. I mean, I appreciate all of you being here, but I don’t see any British press. Do they have to run to the airport, or they don’t know where the press conference is?” Verstappen said.
