Nico Rosberg expressed skepticism that Lewis Hamilton would have made the errors Lando Norris committed during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The British driver faced a challenging race where mistakes cost him a stronger finish, intensifying the ongoing battle for the F1 championship this season.
Norris Loses Lead Early but Challenges Piastri Late in Race
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix but immediately lost the lead to his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri on the first racing lap, following a rain delay. The dynamics of the race, influenced by differing strategies, allowed Norris to close the gap on Piastri in the closing stages, yet he ultimately made three significant errors that prevented him from reclaiming the lead, finishing three seconds behind.
These mistakes have widened the gap in the Drivers’ Championship standings, with Piastri extending his lead over Norris by 16 points as both drivers pursue their first championship title.
Norris Reflects on Mistakes in Difficult Conditions
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Norris admitted to multiple mistakes during the race that influenced his performance. He said he experienced lock-ups at Turn 1 and went off-track at Pouhon, resulting in lost seconds. Despite these errors, Norris acknowledged the difficult conditions and his need to push hard to make up time.
“I had a couple of lock-ups in Turn 1, I went off in Pouhon, I had a big bump. I lost a couple of seconds there.” —Lando Norris, F1 Driver
“And when you’re playing on the edge like that, you’re going to make some mistakes. But that’s racing, that’s life.” —Lando Norris, F1 Driver
He balanced his self-criticism by pointing out that Piastri also made mistakes, highlighting how tricky the race conditions were for all drivers pushing at the limit.
Rosberg Compares Norris’ Mistakes to Hamilton’s Composure
Analyzing Norris’ comments after the race, Nico Rosberg, the 2016 F1 World Champion and Sky Sports F1 pundit, suggested that drivers of Hamilton’s caliber might handle similar pressure differently. Rosberg questioned whether Hamilton would have made multiple mistakes in the same situation during the race.
“Pushing like crazy in a race like that, when there’s Hammer-time – I’m not sure. I think they don’t happen then, those three mistakes.” —Nico Rosberg, 2016 World Champion
Rosberg acknowledged Norris was driving on the edge repeatedly, which can lead to errors, but implied that Hamilton’s experience might have prevented such costly slips under intense stakes.
Challenges of Leading Into the First Corner at Spa
The long approach down the Kemmel Straight at Spa makes maintaining the lead from pole position extremely difficult. Norris lost his front-running position due to the slipstream effect, which was amplified by wet conditions this weekend.
In Saturday’s Sprint race, Max Verstappen overtook Piastri on the same straight, but on Sunday, Piastri managed to outpace Norris. Norris rejected suggestions that a battery issue affected his start, emphasizing that the slipstream and weather were major factors.
“Like we saw on Saturday, it’s just tough to lead from the beginning. I’m not saying I did the best job, but it just seems like this weekend, it was a headwind down that straight and just pretty much impossible to keep ahead.” —Lando Norris, F1 Driver
Norris admitted he struggled with traction exits and noted that even if he had handled Turn 1 better, the slipstream would likely still have allowed Piastri to pass.
Piastri Explains Risks Taken to Overtake Norris
Oscar Piastri described his decisive pass on Norris as the critical moment of the race, stressing that it required committed and risky driving. He recounted getting a strong exit from Turn 1 and staying close through the challenging Eau Rouge corner before making a clean move before the braking zone.
“But the leading up to it took some risks.” —Oscar Piastri, F1 Driver
Piastri also managed his tire strategy carefully, running on medium-compound tires against Norris’ hard tires during the closing laps. Despite some nervousness about tire wear given the race distance left, he maintained control to secure his lead.
“So, I had to be a bit careful, but it held on in the end much better than I feared it would. I had to manage a bit, but nothing special.” —Oscar Piastri, F1 Driver
Upcoming Race Preview: Hungarian Grand Prix
The Formula 1 championship heads next to the Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the mid-season summer break. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available for those without traditional TV access. The race will present new challenges for both Norris and Piastri as their championship battle intensifies.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lando Norris shy?
A. When Lando started as a Test and Simulator Driver in 2017, he was a bit shy but still playful and charming. Over time, he has become a confident leader with a quick sense of humor.
Q. Is Lando Norris’ father a millionaire?
A. Lando Norris’s dad, Adam, is very wealthy and was featured in the Sunday Times Rich List. His financial support helped Lando advance in racing and reach Formula 1.
Q. Is Lando Norris’ father rich?
A. Lando Norris was born on November 13, 1999, in Bristol, England. His dad, Adam Norris, used to manage pensions and is very wealthy. In 2018, he was among the richest people in both Bristol and the country. Lando’s mom, Cisca, originally comes from Flanders, Belgium.