The Brazilian GP was filled with excitement, drama, and crashes. However, one thing that stood out was Max Verstappen’s racing excellence, which outperformed all his rivals. The Dutchman had a tumultuous start to the weekend with a Q2 exit followed by a five-place PU penalty. Thus, Verstappen was sent back to P17, and pole-sitter Lando Norris had a chance to increase his WDC probability. The Dutchman delivered a racing masterclass, cruising through the rain to his 62nd Grand Prix win. The victory came after a gap of ten rounds, but it has improved Verstappen’s chances of winning his fourth consecutive world title.
Meanwhile, his WDC arch-rival, Lando Norris, had a terrible Sunday race, finishing sixth. His frustration was clearly visible as the Briton was fuming after the race. He won the sprint race and bagged the pole position. However, it all went in vain after Verstappen’s successful stint. During the post-race interview, Lando Norris said that luck was crucial to Verstappen’s victory.
Lando Norris Attributes Max Verstappen’s Victory To A Stroke Of Luck
Lando Norris reflected on his Brazilian Grand Prix experience with frustration, as what could have been a strong race for him turned into a missed opportunity. The McLaren driver had a rocky race, starting with a loss of position to George Russell at the very beginning. Both British drivers managed to build a gap from Yuki Tsunoda, who was running in third. However, the real challenge arose when the rain intensified, leading Norris and Russell to pit for fresh tires—a decision that quickly backfired when a safety car was deployed, soon followed by a red flag.
This sequence of events played into Max Verstappen’s hands. Starting from P17, Verstappen moved up to P2 by opting not to pit and positioning himself directly behind Esteban Ocon for the restart. Norris, however, found himself in P4 and struggled to recover from the setback as the race resumed. Verstappen overtook Ocon during the second safety car restart, securing a decisive lead and cruising to victory.
After the race, Norris expressed his view that Verstappen’s win was partly due to favorable timing rather than strategy. He voiced disappointment over how the circumstances unfolded, saying that the Red Bull driver had benefitted from a rule many drivers had previously questioned. While he acknowledged Verstappen’s strong drive, Norris believed that fortune significantly shaped the outcome.
George Russell Desrved To Win The Brazilian GP, Says Lando Norris
Lando Norris reflected on his Brazilian Grand Prix experience with a mix of disappointment and acceptance, acknowledging that the unfortunate timing of a red flag significantly impacted his race. As other drivers gained an advantage with a free pit stop, Norris found himself at a disadvantage that was difficult to recover from. He mentioned that George Russell, who was strong throughout the race, may have felt like the real winner of the day and probably deserved the victory more than anyone else, yet luck did not favor them.
Norris also admitted to making a few errors that ultimately cost him positions with both Russell and Charles Leclerc. Despite these setbacks, he took it in stride, noting that after a string of successful races, he was bound to face a challenging day sooner or later. For Norris, it was simply one of those tough days where he did his best but couldn’t quite overcome the hurdles.
