November 3rd 2024.
In a post-race interview, Lando Norris expressed his disappointment in Max Verstappen's victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, claiming that it was not a display of talent but rather sheer luck. Norris, whose own hopes for the F1 title were dashed, had initially seemed poised for a flawless weekend after winning the sprint race and securing pole position. With Verstappen starting from 17th place, it appeared that Norris had a clear advantage.
However, things took a turn for the worse for the McLaren driver as he lost his lead to George Russell at the start of the race and struggled in the treacherous wet conditions while Verstappen excelled in his Red Bull. The defining moment came when Norris's team decided to pit him for fresh tires, which ultimately proved to be a costly move. As fate would have it, a red flag was raised when Franco Colapinto crashed his Williams, giving Verstappen the opportunity to make a pit stop for free and maintain his lead.
As a result, Verstappen went on to claim victory while Norris finished in sixth place, widening the gap in the championship standings to 62 points with only three races remaining. This means that Verstappen could potentially secure his fourth consecutive title at the upcoming race in Las Vegas.
In a dejected tone, Norris spoke to Sky Sports about his disappointment, attributing his loss to a strategic error. He stated, "It's all about the position loss. We were just caught under the red flag and the others got a free pit stop. It's unfortunate, nothing more." He also expressed his frustration with the controversial rule that allowed Verstappen to benefit from the red flag, stating that not a single driver agrees with it.
Norris acknowledged that Verstappen drove well, but he couldn't help but feel that luck played a significant role in his victory. He said, "He got a bit lucky, but that's just how life goes." He also added, "The race shouldn't have been red flagged. That's just the way it is sometimes. You take a gamble, and it paid off for them. It's not talent, it's just luck."
To add insult to injury, Norris is currently under investigation, along with three other drivers, for a possible infringement at the start of the race, which could result in a penalty that would further impact his standing.
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