Lando Norris expressed his frustration after a significant strategy blunder by McLaren at the Qatar Grand Prix. The miscalculation allowed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to close in on the championship title, reducing Norris’s lead to just 12 points in the drivers’ standings. With the final race approaching in Abu Dhabi on November 26, the stakes have never been higher for the McLaren driver.
McLaren faced criticism for its decision not to pit its cars during a safety car period on Lap 7, a choice that ultimately cost Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri valuable positions. While Piastri managed to finish second, Norris crossed the line in fourth, dropping him further behind Verstappen, who is now firmly in contention for the title. Piastri sits third in the standings, only four points behind Verstappen and 16 points adrift of Norris.
Reflecting on the challenging race, Norris stated, “I just want to go to bed,” highlighting his disappointment with the team’s strategy. Despite the setback, he emphasized the need to approach the final race with the same determination as always. “I try and beat them, they try and beat me. Nothing different,” he added.
Final Race in Abu Dhabi Could Seal Championship
A podium finish in Abu Dhabi would ensure Norris’s claim to the championship title, marking a significant achievement in his career. He remains focused on maintaining the strong form he displayed in the previous races, having secured victories in both Mexico and Brazil. “Obviously it’s not our greatest day, not our greatest weekend,” Norris acknowledged. “But I don’t know if anyone saw the run of results I had before that, were great. So I put myself in this position [at the top of the championship].”
Despite the disappointment in Qatar, Norris refrained from dwelling on the missteps. “I’m still happy. It wasn’t our finest day, it wasn’t my finest weekend in terms of driving and putting things together. But that’s life. Everyone has bad weekends,” he remarked.
Norris’s ability to bounce back and learn from this experience will be crucial as he heads into the season finale. With the championship on the line, the McLaren team aims to regroup and strategize effectively to secure the title for Norris. As the excitement builds for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the race unfolds.
