Norris had “sketchy” finish to F1 Chinese language GP with brake challenge

Lando Norris admits he was fortunate to complete the Chinese language Grand Prix, having taken second place regardless of a worsening brake challenge to stay on the high of the Method 1 drivers’ championship.

Whereas his team-mate Oscar Piastri secured victory in Shanghai, Norris needed to handle a brake downside within the closing levels and stored George Russell at bay after twice passing the Mercedes on observe.

Having received the opening race in Australia and brought a degree within the dash race in China, Norris’ second place leaves him on 44 factors, eight factors away from Max Verstappen within the standings.

Norris revealed the group knew concerning the challenge with the entrance brakes earlier than reporting it over the group radio with seven laps remaining.

“I might relatively end second than under no circumstances, no laborious braking,” race engineer Will Joseph informed Norris, earlier than saying the scenario had change into “crucial” on the penultimate lap.

Russell closed up by over three seconds on the ultimate lap however Norris held on to safe a fiftieth McLaren one-two in F1.

“He would have gotten me subsequent lap, yeah,” Norris admitted to Sky Sports activities F1.

“I used to be fortunate to complete the race as we speak which isn’t one thing you need to be saying. I imply, brakes are one thing you hate however one thing you actually do want, and so they can prevent, save your life.

“So a sketchy final couple of laps, as a result of the brakes had been getting worse and worse each lap, and the final couple of laps I am three or 4 seconds off, so fairly nervous.

“I feel the group knew about the issue a lot earlier than they informed me about it, in order that they needed to maintain me calm.

“So not good in any respect from that aspect as a result of we’re fortunate to have completed the race, however to complete with a one-two makes us very comfortable. It is what we needed to return into the weekend with, and it is what we achieved, so yeah, an excellent day for the group.”

Having admitted to creating errors in dash qualifying, the dash race and qualifying for the grand prix itself, Norris put in a greater efficiency on Sunday.

He received previous Russell into the primary nook to take second place, and once more after the undercut labored in favour of the Mercedes man following the one and solely spherical of stops for the leaders.

Requested if he might have challenged Piastri for the win with out the brake complication, Norris replied: “It would not actually matter, does it? I might have beloved to have challenged Oscar as we speak, however he drove properly. I had the tempo for certain particularly as a result of in soiled air it is much more tough like we have seen all weekend, however I do suppose the tempo was there.

“However Oscar deserved it utterly. He took pole yesterday after which a win as we speak, so he is pushed very properly. A disgrace about my brakes ultimately, however that is life. We’ll take it on the chin and transfer on.”

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photos

Each McLaren drivers now have a grand prix win to their identify in 2025 and, heading to Japan in a fortnight, Norris was a lot happier than when he first took to the observe in Shanghai.

“I imply it is going to be thrilling, it is thrilling for all of us,” he added.

“It is robust however I am nonetheless feeling good. With how unhealthy the automobile had been yesterday and the day earlier than I actually felt like a superb few steps behind all weekend.

“When it comes to driving personally and simply with the automobile steadiness as we speak issues got here in the direction of me much more and the tempo distinction from as we speak to yesterday confirmed simply how a lot having a automobile that fits you versus a automobile that does not swimsuit you may make, as a result of I felt like I most likely had the most effective tempo on the market as we speak.

“It does not imply I will win with the most effective tempo, however I felt, like, very assured as we speak, and I felt the exact opposite yesterday, so a optimistic by way of learnings and takeaways for the subsequent few weekends.

“Despite the fact that I have been driving a McLaren for six, seven years, this weekend was a whole new one for me and I needed to change plenty of issues in my driving, so glad that I received some solutions.”

Pictures from Chinese language GP – Race