Lando Norris says he’s played it safe on the first lap of races so far this year but may become more aggressive in future.
The McLaren driver has lost more places on the first lap of races than any other driver so far this season. He has given away a total of 19 spots over the first eight rounds.Norris, who is in his first season of Formula 1, admits he’s been playing it safe at the start so far. “At this point of the season I’d rather finish the race than anything else,” he said.
At the start of the last race at Paul Ricard, Norris lost a position to team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr. He said he didn’t want to risk a collision with his team mate.
“My start was pretty good in Paul Ricard,” said Norris. “Better than the Red Bull, better than both of the Ferraris ahead of me.
“So was Carlos’s start. Carlos had a slightly better position going into turn one going into turn one. I kind of got him back around turn two and I was on the outside in turn two of Carlos. It’s kind of risk versus reward. I trust Carlos 100 percent [but] I don’t know what would have happened.
“It can easily go wrong by me just trying to gain one or two more points. If I have to and we need every little point, we’re on the limit of doing something, then I can quite happily take the risk but it’s a risk.”
Norris is set to start today’s race from fifth on the grid, as he did in France. Although he said he may take more risks in future, scoring points remains his priority.
“A little bit is always going into turn one not knowing how much grip you have,” he said. “[It’s] very easy to lock up. People with however many years of experience, such as Paul Ricard last year, you can go into turn one and do stupid stuff and mess it all up.
“Maybe later in the season I’ll pick it up a little bit. But it’s not so much I’m terrible, it’s more I want to finish the race and learn more things from than than trying something silly, damage my floor, damage my wing and do something which there’s no point of doing.”
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David (@nvherman)
30th June 2019, 9:07
Something some of the more mature competitors could learn from.
I’ve got it into my head that it was Mark Webber who said “You can’t win the race at the first corner, but you sure can lose it”. Pretty sure his version was more colourful though…
GtisBetter (@)
30th June 2019, 9:46
I disagree. At the front many races are won in the first corner now. And many podiums are won there too. Of course crashing is not what you want, but if you want to be succesful, you need to find that balance between safe and aggresive. I can’t blame Norris, cause points are very valuable, but at the same time, he has to learn it sometimes, so might as wel be now.
bosyber (@bosyber)
30th June 2019, 10:39
@passingisoverrated I think in the first few races it’s probably a good idea to prioritize getting laps in during competition, ie. in the actual race. But, indeed, now it should perhaps be about showing you are competitive in all aspects of racing,and definitely the first lap too since it is so important nowadays, especially when you are in a top 8 car.
Patrick (@anunaki)
30th June 2019, 10:55
In the current formula the 1st corner or lap is the best if not only way to overtake someone with similar pace on some of the circuits.
I would not prefer being known for being too careful then
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
30th June 2019, 9:50
Nice mind games there, Lando. You’re gonna take it easy… but still faster than Ferrari and RBR. Smooth.
Jere (@jerejj)
30th June 2019, 10:15
“Better than the Red Bull, better than both of the Ferraris ahead of me.”
– Except that he only had one Ferrari ahead of him on the grid last time out in France, as well as this time around in Austria.
georgeboole (@)
30th June 2019, 13:11
Norris is right about taking it easy. And I m pretty sure that’s coming from the team too. They are not championship contenders but having both cars in the top 10 is a priority for them no matter which driver is in front.
They need a clean 4th place in the WCC to get more sponsors, so more money flow for the car. Can’t blame them.
I believe Norris and Sainz are the best possible pair McLaren could have in that grid.