Lando Norris expressed surprise at scoring points at Formula 1’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix after conceding he “struggled with everything” in the middle stint of the race.
Norris ran a Medium/Hard/Hard strategy at Silverstone on Sunday and made up one position on his starting position to classify ninth.
Norris was overhauled by one-stopping Renault driver Esteban Ocon but profited from Daniel Ricciardo’s spin, and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly regressing, to pick up ninth.
“It was much harder than last week’s race,” said Norris.
“Tyre degradation was much bigger issue. I think we were always expecting it but my second stint was the worst stint I’ve ever had in my life.
“I was just struggling with everything. I’m not too sure why, we’re going to have to look into it afterwards but massive vibrations from the blisters and everything without feeling like I over pushed in the stint to cause it.
“I thought I did a good job to bring the tyres in, but obviously not.
“I’m surprised I was still P9 after what was feeling like a terrible race. So, I’m still happy, I think we could tell the Racing Points and everyone ahead and, even the Renaults were much quicker.
“To be able to battle them and have a good start and a first stint was also positive.”
Norris maintained fifth position in the Drivers’ Championship, two points ahead of Red Bull’s Alexander Albon.
McLaren slipped to fourth spot in the Constructors’ Championship, behind Ferrari, as Carlos Sainz Jr. failed to score, owing to an issue in the pit stop.
“We managed to get a good start and after a very strong and long first stint we were in a good spot,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it looks like we had a gun failure in the pit-stop, which undid all the work done before the stop.
“It looks like we could’ve been on for some points today with the tyre strategy we had and with how we managed the race, but again I missed out on a good result for reasons beyond my control.”
