Lando Norris: “I could have finished 8th if I had been more rebellious”

The radio of McLaren particularly crackled on this Sunday afternoon. Starting 11th and 12th on the grid, Lando Norris et Daniel Ricciardo did not leave the race. As well as driving, the two men spent quite a bit of time chatting with the McLaren crowd. It all started on the first stint. The Australian, a respectable distance behind his English counterpart, took to the radio to put pressure on the track engineers. "If that's all he (Norris) has something available in terms of rhythm, I have more” he blurted out, asking in a barely veiled manner that Norris be asked to let him pass. 

The response was negative, since Lando had the opportunity to successfully overcut Fernando Alonso. At the end of the race, the situation was reversed. Ricciardo found himself in front of his teammate and the latter, who was sailing two seconds behind, tried to bribe the wall in turn. Without success either. Instead, he was ordered to stay behind, as he got dangerously close in the final loops. “Keep your position, it’s a great result for the team”, we told him. The two Woking cars both finished in the points, in 8th and 9th position. 

Lando Norris. © Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

“I was on the inside at Turn 1, and I gave him space so he could pass. I could have finished 8th if I had been more rebellious, but I accept what we did as a team. What we have achieved is strong. We wanted to be in the points with both cars and that's what we did. I am happy ", he blurted. As for champing at the bit, he explains that it wasn't that hard to accept. “I'm a team player, so I quickly accepted that I wouldn't be able to overtake him in the end. In addition, Daniel helped me in the middle of the race, when he was not allowed to overtake me.” In any case, it was a great day at the office for McLaren! 

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