Formula 1 racing team McLaren has come off as one of the losers from Azerbaijan. WM leader Oscar Piatri resigned, pursuer Lando Norris saved himself in seventh place in the victory of world champion Max Verstappen. Not sufficient, says ex-driver Ralf Schumacher.
Lando Norris was unable to use his chance, after the failure of team-mate Oscar Piatri, you can make important points in the World Cup driver classification. Although the Australian Baku left without a counter, the distance is still 25 points.
“In my view, that was too little,” judges the former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher in the “Sky” podcast “Backstage pit lane” about the performance of the British: “I believe that Lando could have got more out.”
Even in qualifying, the two McLaren stars did not go according to plan: Piatri was hit in Q3 and only started as ninth, Norris only drove the seventh time. The next day after a crash after a crash was already the end of the day, Norris got stuck in traffic and could not improve significantly.
Schumacher contradicts Norris – and sees changes
Schumacher also did not want to accept Norris’ argument that he could have been one or two places in qualifying due to the interruptions. “I see it differently. I think that makes a difference.”
Norris would have had fewer vehicles in front of him, the race might have built up “very differently” for him. “He still has to work on himself. Nevertheless, he drove a flawless race compared to the teammate – at his pace. He tried it, but also not risked anything. Therefore: Chapeau!”
Video: Driver of the day in Azerbaijan: Carlos Sainz
Schumacher believes in the strengths of the McLaren star: “He grows on that now. He now sees light again at the end of the tunnel.”
Norris, especially then “a realistic chance” on the World Cup title when Max Verstappen continues to interfere and Oscar Piatri takes away important World Cup points.