Lando Norris is aiming for a “reset” in Formula 1’s 2024 summer break after “stupid” early mistakes prevented him from finishing higher than an inherited fifth place at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver had started fourth and was expected to challenge for victory in the race which was eventually won by Mercedes’ George Russell in a 1-2 for the Silver Arrows team, until Russell was disqualified after the race.
Norris, however, lost three places on the opening lap when he partially hit the gravel on the exit of the first corner and shortly afterwards missed an overtake on Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Getting stuck behind the Ferrari meant Norris was overtaken by Max Verstappen (who was recovering from an engine change penalty) at the opening stops, and from there the Briton had to chase the Red Bull all the way to the finish, finishing just 0.6s back as Verstappen, who was ahead, fell just short of beating Ferrari polesitter Charles Leclerc.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Asked how much rest he needed over the summer break following McLaren’s patchy results in the hectic run of races in recent weeks, Norris replied: “I mean, we all needed it, but I think I just needed a reset.
“I have given away a lot of points in the last three or four races for stupid things, mistakes and bad starts, now in Turn 1. I don’t know why. They are stupid things. They are not even difficult things.
“It’s just… Turn 1, trying to stay out of trouble, trying to make sure there’s a gap and not get hit, and then I go off the track. Just some stupid things. The pace is good, the team is doing an amazing job, so I’m happy.
“In a way, I feel like I don’t want to take a break, I just want to continue because we are in good shape. Even today I feel like the pace was very strong.
“In the last two or three races I haven’t been as good as I needed to be and I’ve lost a lot of points, so I hope I can come back strong.”
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photography by: Erik Junius
Explaining his costly crash into the gravel at La Source, Norris said he “just misjudged it, honestly.”
He added: “I just didn’t want to get taken out at Turn 1 so I gave up the space and misjudged the exit a bit.”
Norris also felt that the Spa race was an event where “it was simply impossible to overtake” as Russell took victory on the road after making just one pit stop.
“The overtaking today was rubbish,” he continued. “I think there was very little overtaking on track. Most of it was at the pit stops. There was some overtaking, but only when you had a 10-lap tyre advantage.
“Otherwise, yes, it was a bit of a tough race with the overtaking. And I felt we were fast, the car was fast. I just don’t feel like we made the most of what we could have done.”
