Lando Norris regrets ‘stupid mistakes’ in bid to beat Max Verstappen in F1 battle

Verstappen served a 10-place grid penalty in Belgium on Sunday but heads into the sport’s summer break with an extended title lead over Norris after finishing one place ahead of his rival.

Norris started from fourth on the grid, but a week after a poor start at the Hungaroring (which allowed his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to take control of the race and claim his first victory), the Englishman had to regret another bad start.

The 24-year-old held his position ahead of the opening corner of La Source but sank his left-rear tyre into the gravel on the exit, which cost him dearly on the 220mph straight through Eau Rouge and into the Kemmel Straight.

Suddenly Norris was seventh and midway through the second lap, Verstappen, who had started seven places behind him following his grid penalty, was just one position back in eighth.

McLaren’s strategy will also be back in the spotlight after Verstappen overtook Norris in the first round of pit stops.

Verstappen stopped on lap 10 but Norris did not pit for his first of two tyre changes until lap 15. When he emerged from the pits he was six seconds behind the Dutchman and did not have the pace to overtake the Red Bull.

“I need the summer break to reset,” Norris said, dejectedly.

“I have lost a lot of points in the last three or four races due to stupid things, mistakes and bad starts.

“It was just silly stuff, not even hard stuff. I tried to stay out of trouble here to make sure I didn’t get hit, and then I miscalculated the situation and ended up off the track.

“There’s no one reason. I’m just trying too hard and maybe I’m paying the price for it.

“We have what it takes to fight and do battle, but I have not been up to the task. I will leave, forget about everything and come back stronger.”

Norris is 78 points behind Verstappen, the equivalent of more than three wins, with 10 rounds remaining.