Lando Norris said he “should have” won in Spain but is yet convinced McLaren has the fastest car in the 2024 Formula 1 field despite his inability to turn his pole position into a victory.
In a post-race interview with David Coulthard, Lando Norris candidly admitted that a small mistake at the start of the Spanish Grand Prix cost him a potential victory over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Norris emphasized that it wasn’t just a chance to win but a race he should have won. “I got a bad start, simple as that,” Norris stated, underlining the impact of his initial misstep.
Reflecting on the race, Norris expressed his frustration, noting that his McLaren was performing exceptionally well. “The car was incredible,” he said, yet the subpar start left him playing catch-up. Norris acknowledged his need to review the race to understand precisely what went wrong. “I need to look back and review. I don’t know what I did wrong, or if I was just slightly out. It was only a little bit to Max that I lost; it wasn’t like he was completely alongside. It’s more that George was suddenly outside and kind of had me over,” he explained.
Despite his strong performance throughout the race, Norris lamented that the poor start was a significant negative amid many positives. “It kind of ruined everything,” he admitted.
McLaren: The Fastest Car on the Grid?
Norris’ disappointment is magnified by his belief that McLaren currently boasts the fastest car in Formula 1. “I think we were for sure the quickest,” he remarked. As the race progressed, Norris managed to reduce Verstappen’s lead to just two seconds, forcing Red Bull to urge Verstappen to increase his pace to secure the victory.
Norris’ second-place finish in Barcelona marks his fourth podium of the year, highlighting McLaren’s impressive form since the Chinese Grand Prix. Following his maiden win in Miami, the British driver has consistently demonstrated the MCL38’s potential.
With the Austrian Grand Prix approaching, a track Norris describes as one of his favorites, there’s optimism that he can fully showcase McLaren’s capabilities. “I need to tidy up those final loose ends,” Norris concluded, setting his sights on a stronger start in Austria.
