Confession: Lando Norris " Because Lewis Hamilton"...Read more

Lando Norris Reflects on British GP: “I Lost the Chance to Fight for Victory Because I Was Much Slower Than Lewis Hamilton”

The 2024 British Grand Prix, held at the historic Silverstone Circuit, offered plenty of thrills and drama, but for Lando Norris, it was a race of mixed emotions. Despite finishing on the podium, the McLaren driver expressed frustration over his inability to challenge for the victory, attributing it to being significantly slower than his long-time rival, Lewis Hamilton.

Norris, who started the race in a strong position, was tipped by many to be a serious contender for the win, especially with the crowd at Silverstone roaring in support. The young Brit had shown impressive pace throughout the weekend, qualifying ahead of Hamilton and securing a front-row start. However, as the race unfolded, it became clear that the challenge of holding off the seasoned Mercedes driver would be far greater than anticipated.

At the start of the race, Norris managed to hold his position, even leading briefly as the lights went out. His McLaren, equipped with the latest updates, seemed to be in a position to take on the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes. For the first few laps, it appeared that Norris might indeed be on course for a historic win at his home Grand Prix.

However, as the race progressed, it became evident that Norris was struggling to maintain his initial pace. Hamilton, who had started behind him, began to close the gap, his Mercedes showing superior speed on the straights and through the high-speed corners that Silverstone is famous for.

Despite his best efforts, Norris found himself unable to match Hamilton’s relentless pace. In a post-race interview, Norris candidly reflected on the difficulties he faced during the race.

“I lost the chance to fight for victory because I was much slower than Lewis,” Norris admitted. “We knew coming into the weekend that it would be tough, but I genuinely thought we had the pace to at least keep up with them. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case today.”

Norris went on to explain how the balance of his car deteriorated as the race progressed, particularly in the second stint after the first pit stops.

“The car felt great at the start, and I was able to push hard,” he said. “But after the first stop, I started to lose grip, and it just got worse. Lewis was able to manage his tires better and maintain his speed, whereas I was struggling to keep the car on the limit.”

For Norris, the British GP was a learning experience, albeit a frustrating one. While a podium finish is an achievement in itself, especially at such a prestigious event, the McLaren driver couldn’t help but wonder what could have been if he had been able to keep pace with Hamilton.

“Of course, it’s great to be on the podium at Silverstone, but I’m also disappointed because I know we had a chance to win,” Norris said. “We need to go back and understand where we lost out, particularly in the second half of the race. If we can figure that out, I’m confident we’ll come back stronger.”

As the Formula 1 season continues, Norris remains optimistic about McLaren’s prospects. The team has made significant strides in recent races, closing the gap to the front-runners. However, Norris knows that to consistently challenge for victories, they will need to extract even more performance from the car.

“We’re getting there, but there’s still work to do,” Norris concluded. “We’ll keep pushing, and hopefully, next time we’ll be in a better position to fight for the win.”

The British Grand Prix may have ended in disappointment for Norris, but his determination to improve and fight for future victories is stronger than ever. With several races still to come, there’s no doubt that the young Brit will be eager to prove himself once again.