P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris believes Max Verstappen was so much faster than McLaren in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix that “he probably would have lapped us.” Verstappen started 17th on the grid, but having climbed int…
Lando Norris believes Max Verstappen was significantly faster than McLaren in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, stating that Verstappen could have lapped them if he had started from the front. Despite starting 17th, Verstappen’s impressive performance and strategic tire change during a red flag period secured him the win with a more than 20-second lead. Norris admitted that McLaren lacked the pace to compete with Verstappen, even if he had not struggled with top speed for overtaking. He expressed regret over finishing sixth, acknowledging that Red Bull’s speed was superior and he couldn’t have done much more in the challenging conditions. Norris defended the team’s decision to change to new intermediate tires during intensified rain, despite Red Bull and Alpine benefitting from staying out during the red flag period. He criticized the rule but accepted the outcome, acknowledging that it favored Red Bull and Alpine in this case and emphasizing the unpredictable nature of racing. Finally, Norris may face a post-race penalty for a starting procedure infringement, as stewards are also investigating George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson for the same incident during the race.
