McLaren driver Lando Norris claimed his 14th Formula 1 grand prix victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, describing the chaotic race as one of the finest performances of his career.
The reigning world champion started Sunday from pole position but lost the lead early in the race. He dropped behind Kimi Antonelli and Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson after a poor start where his rear wheels spun off the line.
“The start was not optimal, and from then on I had to fight my way back,” Norris told Motorsport-Total.com. “What the challenge is concerned, [this race] definitely belongs among them.”
The race featured changing weather, strategic pit stop timing, and a late-race downpour that forced drivers back onto intermediate tires. Norris praised his team for executing flawless pit stops and managing the slick-to-wet transitions.
“There were numerous challenges: the strategy, the changeable conditions, the management of the intermediates, the switch to slicks — and then you weren’t allowed to make any mistakes on the slicks, especially in Turn 1 or on the wetter spots on the track,” Norris said.
Before his final pit stop, Norris sat eight seconds behind Antonelli. Mercedes brought Antonelli in a lap earlier to switch to slick tires, prompting Norris to push hard on his out-lap.
When Norris emerged from the pit lane, he sat directly behind the Mercedes driver. The pressure forced Antonelli into a mistake at the first corner, where he spun his car and handed the lead back to the McLaren driver.
“As for me: I just didn’t make any mistakes, which is very easy to do on a day like today,” Norris said. “A great performance by the whole team. Definitely one of the best I’ve ever experienced.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised his driver’s adaptability during the tricky transition phases on the drying and damp circuit.
“When Lando is in top form, he is definitely one of the best drivers in the entire field,” Stella told Motorsport-Total.com. “He has a very fine sense of how much grip is available. He is — despite the many years ahead of him — already a very complete driver.”
Stella added that the team aims to deliver a less demanding car in future seasons. “Our goal is to give Lando and Oscar a competitive car with which they have it a bit easier, because our current vehicle is still quite demanding to drive,” he said.
Reflecting on his start, Norris took full blame for the wheelspin that allowed Lawson and Antonelli to pass him through the opening corners.
“It went on my cap,” Norris admitted regarding the start. “Liam was probably in my blind spot, I just couldn’t see him. I didn’t know if he was behind me or exactly where he was positioned.”
Despite the early setback and the tricky visibility on slicks during the late rain shower, the Briton maintained his composure to secure the victory.
“It was a race in which a lot could happen, so I stayed patient,” Norris said. “Normally I might react a bit more angrily in such a situation, but I stayed patient, and in the end everything went perfectly for me.”
