Lando Norris has admitted he is not too proud to overshadow his teammate Oscar Piastri who won the first F1 race, and McLaren one-two, with the radio wrangling in the closing stages of the Hungarian GP last week.
The Briton also admitted he now realizes he was “stupid” for not immediately letting Piastri back into the lead after the pit stop, instead of waiting 20 laps when there were just three laps of the grand prix remaining. He did not have enough time to mount a new bid for the lead.
Five days from the drama of the last race at the Hungaroring, when speaking to the media on the opening day of the Belgian GP weekend, Norris said: “Could it have been handled a little differently from the team and personal side? Yes, absolutely, and I think we would not have this conversation now in some ways.
“What people out there think and (will) make up their own story about what happened and what I will do and what I won’t do, I don’t think about that.
“The thing I can do, the fact that I feel like winning Oscar’s first race in Formula 1, I’m not too proud.
“The fact that we had a one-two and it was almost not the title after the race. The fact that we had a one-two and nothing was said from that side, that makes me feel even worse.
“Apart from what we discussed, we have spoken about it. Both sides can do it a little better, a little differently. It is almost not good that we have, but the good moment we have had it (at the same time), we have learned from that and hopefully we can do better next time.”
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Listen to the radio message from McLaren throughout the Hungarian Grand Prix
For his part, Norris admitted that what he had to do – allowing Piastri to return immediately after beating Australia at the second point – was not on his mind at the time.
“Let him go right through,” Norris said.
“It was a stupid thing that I didn’t do because we were still free to race, so I could let him pass and still try to overtake and race. time.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
On the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Karun Chandhok, Tom McCluskey and Matt Baker discuss Norris’ dilemma over giving Piastri the No.1 spot
“Simple things like that I can do. I was just in a good rhythm and the time was going well. I asked the team several times, but I knew when they counted me before I was going to go. I had to let him go, I just a bit stupid and didn’t think to let him go before.”
Norris: The championship situation should not have come yet
Amid scrutiny of the dramatic closing stages of last Sunday’s race, the main focus will be on whether McLaren made the right decision to switch drivers again given Norris’ status as Max Verstappen’s closest challenger in the Drivers’ Championship. championship.
Norris goes into this weekend’s Belgian GP, the last race before the summer break, 76 points behind the Red Bull driver in the standings, while Piastri is 116 points back.
Had Norris won last Sunday’s race, his deficit would have been reduced to 69 points.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
After Lando Norris let his teammate Oscar Piastri down at the Hungarian Grand Prix, his fellow F1 drivers were asked if they would do the same if they were in the same position.
Top points scorer in F1 for the past seven races in a race that also saw Red Bull close in on the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren are now considered to have the fastest car in F1 – a momentum shift that boosts Norris’ confidence. outside taken in the title through the final 11 races of the season.
However, the 24-year-old is confident that the Drivers’ Championship should not be on the Hungarian team’s mind this campaign at Piastri’s expense.
“That has nothing to do with last week. I shouldn’t have led the race, that was the last one,” Norris insisted.
“Oscar got rid of me, he controlled it very well, that’s why. I don’t have to lead the race and that’s why people should not have the perception ‘ah, the team is not biased towards Lando’. If Oscar leads the whole race, there is no reason why he should ask let me pass.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Lewis Hamilton says the exchange between him and Lando Norris doesn’t bother him, and says he doesn’t take it personally as it reflects his own experience at a young age in the sport.
“If you think about it from a championship point of view, I don’t know when that point is like if I’m 10 points behind, 15 points behind, whatever, at what point do you go, can you help. come out more’ or you can do this or do that?
“I don’t know when that point is and it’s not my decision. But when Oscar has led the whole race, it’s well controlled, and just from the strategy side, he counts me first to be safe, so it just gives a perception. something completely different.
“You don’t have to do it, internally we know you don’t. Oscar deserves to win and it does, as simple as that.”
Asked if he thought he should have been favored but given a superior championship position, Norris replied: “No, I still have to earn it. I still have to go out and drive faster than everyone else.
“Why is it now the point where we will have a bias over one? We have never had a bias in the team, it might look like it from the outside but now a lot is happening (that person thinks).
“But why now suddenly I have a chance? I have had a chance all season and we are only half way. line, but that time has to be decided.”
Live Sky Sports F1 Belgian GP schedule
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments over the years at the Belgian Grand Prix
Friday July 26th
8.50am: Exercise F3
10.00: Practice F2
12pm: Belgian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
2pm: Qualifying F3
14.55: Qualifying F2
15.45: Belgian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
17:15: F1 event
Saturday 27 July
8:45: F3 Sprint
11.15: Belgian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.15: Belgian GP Qualifiers
3pm: Belgian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualification Notebook
Sunday 28 July
7:25: F3 Feature Race
8.55: F2 Feature Race
10.40: Porsche Supercup
12:30: Grand Prix Sunday – Belgian GP build-up*
2pm: BELGIAN GRAND PRIX*
16:00: Checkered Flag: Belgian GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 action continues this weekend with the final race before the F1 summer break, the Belgian Grand Prix. You can watch every session from Spa-Francorchamps live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with Sports Month Membership NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
