Baku, Azerbaijan – Lando Norris hoped for a breakthrough weekend in his Formula 1 World Championship fight but came away with only six points gained on McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
The Briton finished seventh in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a long way behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who dominated for his second consecutive victory. The result prompted questions over whether Norris missed an opportunity or did the best he could under difficult conditions.
Norris identified qualifying on Saturday as the main reason for his race result. Overtaking at the Baku street circuit is notoriously difficult, meaning starting position largely dictates finishing order. He started seventh and ended seventh, unable to move past rivals ahead of him.
Saturday’s qualifying was historic for its interruptions. The session saw a record six red flags caused by multiple crashes in challenging conditions. Both McLaren drivers struggled to find their rhythm amid the chaos.
Piastri crashed and was forced to start ninth. Norris had a chance to qualify better but could only manage seventh. He attributed the result to his decision to go out first in the final three minutes after the last stoppage, leaving him at a disadvantage as conditions improved for drivers who followed.
The track had a slight rain sheen, giving those running later a performance edge. Verstappen, running second last, capitalized perfectly to secure pole. Norris acknowledged this but stressed he made the best decision available under rapidly changing circumstances.
Despite his seventh-place finish, Norris salvaged six points in the championship fight. However, Red Bull’s pace proved too strong, and the gap to Verstappen in the title race remains significant. McLaren’s struggles in qualifying continue to limit the potential of both Norris and Piastri.
Team principal Andreas Seidl highlighted the need for better qualifying strategies, noting that Baku’s unique challenges demand split-second timing and adaptability. For Norris, the weekend was a reminder that in Formula 1, opportunities can be fleeting, and even minor miscalculations can have lasting impacts.
Looking ahead, Norris aims to rebound in upcoming races, seeking circuits where overtaking is more feasible and McLaren can maximize performance. The British driver remains in contention, but with Verstappen continuing to dominate, he cannot afford more weekends like Baku.
In the end, the Azerbaijan GP was a mix of misfortune and tough luck for McLaren. Norris’s performance was steady but insufficient, highlighting the razor-thin margins that define modern Formula 1 championship battles.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
