Norris denies missing opportunity in Baku after incident with Piastri

BAKU, Azerbaijan – Lando Norris played down the idea of having wasted a great opportunity to revive his battle for the title with Oscar Piastri, after brushing the wall at the end of Q3 on Saturday. Piastri, who leads his McLaren teammate, Norris, by 31 points in the championship fight, crashed into the wall at Turn 4 in the final qualifying session. This caused a red flag and, as a light rain fell on the circuit, Norris was the first driver to go out on track to set a time at the end. His return seemed to be on the limit until turn 15, where his car brushed the TecPro barriers. The time he set was only enough for seventh place in the end. Verstappen, who left the pits a little later than the McLaren driver, managed to secure a comfortable pole position with a clean lap. Piastri will start two places behind Norris, in ninth position.

When asked if it was a missed opportunity, Norris replied:

No, because I still did everything I could. The difficult conditions, I went out first and in the end it was the wrong decision. If everyone else had a yellow behind because someone else went off the track behind me, they wouldn’t be asking me this question. Sometimes things go well here, sometimes they don’t.

Lando Norris

Added:

We thought we made a better choice. I think it would have been if it wasn’t drizzling, it just started drizzling again before the last stint. And then going out first is just the wrong thing.

Lando Norris

And he continued:

So, something we will learn from. But no, the opportunities are there every weekend to be on pole. I try to do it every weekend. Today it cost me more for not making the best decision. But that is something that is seen afterwards, not incorrect at the time.

Lando Norris

Then he clarified:

I wanted to go out first, yes.

Lando Norris

This means that the fast McLaren drivers will have to make their way through the group if they want to have any chance of winning the race. Norris believes Verstappen will have it easy on Sunday. “Great for you guys,” Norris joked about that possibility. “I hope it’s a good show. I don’t think we’ll have the pace to beat Max. I think he’ll be fast. It’s been fast all weekend. They can easily win in Monza. They can easily win again here today, this weekend. I am not sure about the victory, but we will try to get on the podium.