Second place in China is enough for Lando Norris with a win, but still not a victory. After another Pazar performance, he admitted that he was frustrated by the situation. But how long do you have to wait for the first one?
If anyone had doubts about why more and more people are missing Lando Norris’ first Formula 1 victory, the Chinese Grand Prix provided a great answer. The Briton, who was also chosen as the driver of the day, beat Sergio Pérez out of the blue with some exaggeration and took second place, his and his team’s best result so far this year.
In advance, they didn’t even think they were a podium contender, and at first, despite their good race pace, it didn’t seem like they could prevent Red Bull from winning twice. The Mexicans were overtaken with some luck during the safety car wheel changes, but as team boss Andrea Stella pointed out: “We were able to hold second place with the pace of the car and Lando’s amazing racing.”
Friday’s rainy sprint pole, Saturday’s qualifying fourth place on a dry track, and Sunday’s production showed: even if there are mistakes here and there, Norris is one of the best. However, he has yet to win in F1.
“Every time I finish behind Max, it feels like a victory”
Norris noted with a smile Sky Sports as a kind of self-consolation to Nico Rosberg, who interviewed him on his broadcast.
This is Norris’s 15th podium finish in Formula 1. Before Nick Heidfeld, who reached 13 podiums, he is the undefeated rider with the most podiums in the history of the series. It is not yet known how long this will last. Four riders before him (Patrick Depallier, Jean Alesi, Mika Häkkinen and Eddie Irvine) were relieved at this very point, and his 16th podium was his first win.
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (Photo: XPB)
Rosberg encouraged Norris, who was at 109 F1 races, by saying that he had to wait 111 races for the first one. He no longer added that there were people who had much more. For example, the record holder Sergio Pérez took his first victory in his 190th race, Carlos Sainz in the 150th, Mark Webber in the 130th.
When asked if it frustrates him that such strong performances equaling those of the winners only earn him second places, Norris stoically admitted:
“Yes, I feel that way, but this is Formula 1. Max and Red Bull are doing an amazing job, I can’t fault them, I can’t be too upset about it.”
“I feel that I get a lot out of the car, especially on Sundays, I am satisfied with my current job. And then one day. Will come! I’m not being presumptuous when I say this year. I think we can get a win this year. It will be difficult, we have to work hard for it, but we are working hard” said the mclarenes.
It says everything about Norris’s performance and qualities that Red Bull continues to talk openly about wanting to have him in their ranks one day. Helmut Marko confirmed in an interview ahead of the Shanghai weekend that while he knows he has a long-term contract with McLaren, he hopes they still have a chance to sign Norris at some point in the future.
After the current competition, the Service TVnoted to: “Lando Norris is still young. Lando Norris is definitely the focal point. He has no wins yet. His father joked that when Max retired. I said: »No! Come to us, then it will go faster!”
