Lando Norris described his performance in the Italian Grand Prix as “pretty crappy” after he fell from pole position to finish third.
The pole winner was passed by team mate Oscar Piastri on the opening lap, then both McLarens were beaten by Charles Leclerc who turned an aggressive one-stop strategy into victory.Although McLaren locked out the front row and appeared to be the fastest team yet again this weekend at Monza, Norris says that McLaren did not see themselves as being the clear favourites for the race going into Sunday.
“I think the pace was probably as expected,” Norris told the official F1 channel. “I don’t think we expected to be quicker than anyone else necessarily today.
“Maybe Ferrari were a bit better than we were expecting, for sure. But not in terms of pace but just in terms of tyre wear, they could just manage the tyres better than we could. So we knew that.
“I think we knew coming into the race we were going to struggle a bit with management of the front-left – it’s a bit of a weakness of ours at the minute. And they just seemed to do a good job. So hats off to Charles – they did a good race.”
Although Norris finished ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen to take more points out of his lead in the drivers’ standings, Norris admits he cannot take much satisfaction from the race.
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“I can’t be happy with a third, can I – starting from pole,” he said. “A pretty crappy day from my side.
“I still drove the best I could, obviously some bits weren’t good enough. I’m trying to make up for just not being good enough in other parts of the racing – trying to get fastest lap and stuff like that. One point saved, but being second or first is a lot easier to get points. So some things, clearly, to work on.”
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Jere (@jerejj)
1st September 2024, 18:43
He just can’t catch a break on the opening lap whenever he starts from pole position, although he could’ve covered Piastri better into Della Roggia, ending up in P3 into Lesmo 1 was all on him.
MacLeod (@macleod)
2nd September 2024, 8:50
@jerejj to be fair it was his mistake in turn 2 why Oscar could place his car there. That and pitting earlier then the rest ruïnes his race.
CP
1st September 2024, 18:49
I thought fast car equals wins Lando? Not so easy is it.
Edvaldo
1st September 2024, 19:34
The faster car isn’t enough, he needs a massively faster car, like in Zandvoort, to pull it off.
Nick T.
2nd September 2024, 14:28
Once again, we’re seeing the difference between what the likes of MV, LH and FA do with the fastest car or something even close to it versus what the likes of LN do and CL did with it.
Mog
1st September 2024, 19:58
piastri is the better bet in the long run for McLaren I think
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
1st September 2024, 20:27
Maybe McLaren think so too because they’re not giving Lando any assistance at all. They seem more concerned about letting their drivers race than grabbing the opportunity to have a World Champion. Things might be different next season ie they might not have the chance.
Patrick (@paeschli)
1st September 2024, 20:38
Why would he be? From what I can tell Norris has the better outright pace.
The issue is he bottles it too often, and when he does, the team bottles it for him.
Mog
1st September 2024, 21:09
Better with 3 extra seasons, yes. But the bottle jobs are too consistent.Piastri has a better mindset and likely a higher performance ceiling.
You are right, McLaren have done a great job not getting wins when on the table, for both drivers.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
1st September 2024, 22:05
Making mistakes that undo the good work is worse than being slower at times. Piastri has been more consistent since Imola. Yes maybe he’s not as fast, specially in qualifying. But I struggle to find an error from him, other than missing his pit box at Spa.
Nick T.
2nd September 2024, 14:32
I really don’t get this frequent take. Oscar’s maximum outright pace hasn’t seemed even close to Lando’s and he’s almost at the end of his season full season in extremely long seasons. On top of that, max outright pace has never been the problem for young drivers. It’s consistency, tire management, etc. Both drivers seem to have weaknesses.
isthatglock
1st September 2024, 20:23
The Great Humbling of 0GCSEs Lando Norris. After years of taking sly digs at other drivers for having fast cars did that the work. He’s stuttering when it comes to fighting for a world title at the front of the grid, despite having the fastest car with several years of experience over his teammate. Not so easy now, is it Mr Norris? Daddy can’t buy you a world title
Ben
1st September 2024, 22:56
+1 some of his comments have been so disrespectful. He’s now finding just how hard it is even in the fastest car. Personally I’m here for it. Piastri was better today and showed he’s not going to help Lando.
I’d like to see a championship battle but there’s no way Norris deserves a WDC so far this year.
Nick T.
2nd September 2024, 14:33
What does 0GCSEs stand for/a ref to?
MichaelN
2nd September 2024, 14:49
Norris left school without taking any GCSEs so he could spend more time racing.
So, I suppose one might say he has no high-school diploma, to use an American comparison.
Nick T.
2nd September 2024, 22:56
Thanks for filling me in.
Nuno
1st September 2024, 20:40
Too many excuses from McLaren drivers. Usually its Norris, this time was Piastri telling stupid escuses. Mc Laren has now the fastest car and today they should have won 1st and 2nd, but again their strategy and something else, very strange indeed, did not allow . Norris is still very green, but management is not helping one bit. They do everything to spoil his party. A BIG big shame. They are offering the title to Dr. Verstappen. Incredible
Christian West
2nd September 2024, 3:09
I agree Norris expects to be number one, he clearly isn’t, his focus should be keeping oscar at bay , at current rate oscar could either beat him or be within 10 points of him by end of season im only his 2nd season ? That should worry him cause next year oscar could at current rate and consistency not only beat him but take WDC he is far behind Max and lando now