Lando Norris led the catch-up from tenth place in fourth place, but if it could have been the Formula 1 podium, wouldn’t he have been clumsy in duel?
Ralf Schumacher called it “embarrassing”, and even in front of the television, many spectators may have wondered why Lando Norris fell on the same trick twice in a row at the Formula 1 race in Saudi Arabia-that could cost him the podium on Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton had let the McLaren pilot run twice in a duel and overtook it directly again. Norris absolutely wanted to pass the Ferrari driver during his catch-up and overtook it before the last curve. His problem: This lag Hamilton behind him at the measuring point and pulled over with DRS on the start-finish line.
A round later there was the same scenario: again Hamilton defended his position in the last curve with full vehemence – and again he passed the McLaren before the first curve before Norris harvested and next time it decided to wait for the DRS.
“Lewis naturally knows exactly how to defend himself, so Lando needed a few attempts to see that he has to overtake him in curve 1,” says team boss Andrea Stella after the race at “Sky” and admits: “This was ultimately crucial for Lando’s panel opportunities.”
In the end, Norris was only lacking the third -placed Charles Leclerc at the finish line. “When the racing is so tight, it is about a second or two, and the lost time behind Lewis was already a problem,” says Stella.
With Norris himself, however, the statements sound different: “I think that was the best thing we could get out today,” says the Brit after the race at Sky. “Of course it is a shame to miss the podium. We were close, but Charles drove a good race, had a strong first stint, which made it possible for him to have a good tire set in the second half.”
Norris with an alternative strategy
However, Norris had chosen an alternative strategy after his accident. In contrast to his competitors, he had started on the hard tires and had driven a long first stint. When everyone else drove into the box, he was even in the lead for a few rounds before he himself came to change the tire.
Norris came back on the track for around five seconds behind Leclerc. Both were able to snap the Mercedes of George Russell, but Norris’ Pace was not enough to attack Leclerc.
The Monegasse had also extended its first stint, but was initially traveling with the medium. “I think he’s only three, four, maybe five laps in front of me to the box – that was just not enough to grab it.”
Nevertheless, Norris is satisfied with his race in view of the starting point. “I make life difficult for myself,” he is annoyed by his accident in qualifying. “It would have been much easier and more relaxed to just drive in front. So I have to help myself a little more – and better deliver on Saturdays.”
Stella: Have that in our hand
Stella would also agree to the statement: “He has to improve his Saturdays a bit, then it fits,” he says, speaks of a “good catch -up” and a satisfactory result.
“Leclerc had a very strong pace today, that prevented Landos Podium Platz a bit, but I think the start on the hard tires worked well,” said the team boss.
“But there are many ifs and however. The biggest if is probably yesterday – with good qualifying what we could have achieved today. But that’s in our hands, we have control.”