Lando Norris is aiming for a “reset” in Formula 1’s 2024 summer break after “stupid” early mistakes prevented him from finishing higher than sixth 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.
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 caught behind the Ferrari meant Norris was overtaken by Max Verstappen – who picked up the engine change penalty – at the opening stops and from there the Briton had to chase the Red Bull all the way, finishing just 0.6s back as Verstappen, who was ahead, failed to beat Ferrari polesitter Charles Leclerc.
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 lost a lot of points in the last three or four races just because of stupid things: mistakes and bad starts, now at Turn 1.
“I don’t know why. It’s nonsense. It’s not even difficult stuff.
“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 went off the track.
“Just a few silly things. The pace is good, the team is doing an amazing job, so I’m happy.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“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.”
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 considered the Spa race to be an event where “it was simply impossible to overtake” as Russell took victory after making just one pit stop.
“The overtaking was horrible today,” he continued. “I think there was very little overtaking on track. Most of it was in the pit stops.”
“There were some overtaking moves, 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.”
