Lando Norris has called Max Verstappen ‘lucky’ for his Brazilian Grand Prix win, despite a 19-second lead at the finish line.
Norris, who initially led the race before being overtaken by George Russell, was on the Mercedes driver’s tail during the first part of the race. However, a virtual safety car on lap 28 saw both drivers pit, only for Franco Colapinto’s crash shortly after to bring out a red flag.
The stoppage played right into Verstappen’s hands, allowing him to fit fresh intermediate tyres and restart in second place behind Esteban Ocon, who had also taken a gamble. Verstappen then seized the lead and never looked back, leaving Norris and Russell to fight through the field, with Norris ultimately finishing sixth.
Talking to Sky Sports F1, Norris tipped his hat to Russell, saying he was the true star of the race. He said: “All about position loss,” he lamented. “We were just under the red flag with the free pit stop for the others, so unfortunate, nothing more.
“George probably felt like he won the race today and he probably deserved to win the race today more than anyone else but sometimes it’s just unlucky and the rules go against you,” reports the Express.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: Getty Images)
He added: “So a difficult day, I made a couple of mistakes that cost me against George and cost me against Charles. Nothing more. It was a tough day, I did my best. I’ve had a lot of good races, it was about time that something didn’t go right.”
When quizzed about his championship rival’s smashing win, Norris didn’t hold back and confessed: “[He] drove well, he got a bit lucky, but that’s life.”
Norris was just 44 points adrift of the flying Dutchman going into the Grand Prix but has since slipped to a 62-point gap. With the Las Vegas Grand Prix up next, if Verstappen can keep a lead of 60 points or more after the showdown, he’ll snag his fourth champion title.