Lando Norris has denied that McLaren missed out on the chance to execute a possible overcut on Max Verstappen to steal a win in Formula 1‘s Japanese Grand Prix.
Norris concluded the 53-lap race at Suzuka where he started it as he crossed the line sandwiching Verstappen and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in second place.
The Briton admitted McLaren was stronger than Red Bull in race trim, but Verstappen’s magical lap to grab pole position was vital as track position proved imperative.
Verstappen wielded that to his advantage as Norris advanced on him during the second stint without being able to get within the one-second window to activate DRS.
“I could see Max quite clearly for the whole race, but just couldn’t make any inroads from that point onwards,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week.
“I think him in clean air was enough to stay in that position and he didn’t make any mistakes. He drove a good race.
“The race was won yesterday in hindsight and I guess we always kind of know the better position you start, the more chance you have of winning.
“But I think our pace was probably slightly better, but not enough to get through the dirty air, and kind of get into the DRS.
“And then passing is a whole other story, because it’s pretty much impossible to pass here. So yeah, I think it was a good race.”
Norris indicated that he would seek an answer to the McLaren pit wall’s decision to box on the same lap as Verstappen, all but resigning him to coming home second.
“We tried some things,” he continued. “Maybe we could have tried a bit more with strategy and overcut or undercut.
“We just boxed on the same lap for some reason. So some things we’ll discuss, but good points for us as a team.
“Decent points for me, of course, would have liked a little bit more, but have to take seconds sometimes.”
Norris downplays momentary Verstappen clash
McLaren accomplishing a one-second quicker pit stop than Red Bull on Lap 22 ensured that there was an ephemeral moment where the leaders went wheel-to-wheel.
But while he complained at the time about being shoved onto the grass on the pit exit, Norris has since recognised that Verstappen wasn’t entitled to hand him space.
“The guys just did a very good pit stop, you know, under pressure,” Norris recalled. “It was our one opportunity to try and get a bit closer.
“I wasn’t even trying to race Max. I was just trying to cut the grass, like he said!
“So I didn’t even know he was there, actually. So no, nothing. He had the position and he had the right to do what he did. So fair play.”
Norris denies McLaren made strategic mistake
Norris, though, has contended that McLaren opting to adopt an alternative strategic option in the bid to usurp Verstappen could have compromised his second place.
“We obviously planned some things beforehand and we kind of know what to expect,” he explained.
“But yeah, hindsight is a wonderful thing. I think probably could have gone longer.
“Could I have tried going earlier? Yes. But then you’re at risk of Safety Car and other things. So it’s easy to say, yeah, you should have done that.
“But if I boxed three laps earlier or two laps earlier, and a Safety Car comes out, then we look stupid. So can’t win them all and we take it on the chin.
He elaborated: “I don’t think I could have gone longer because I would have lost position. So that wasn’t on the cards.
“But yeah, I think we probably should have just tried to undercut and then tried something different. But it just wasn’t today. So yeah, things we’ll talk about.”
READ MORE – Oscar Piastri rues track position thwarting Max Verstappen pursuit in Japan
