P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren pit-stop blunder cost Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Qatar – but Norris has firmly defended McLaren.
Lando Norris firmly defended McLaren’s decision not to pit during the Qatar Grand Prix, a choice with significant implications for the championship race. The Lap 7 safety car was deployed after Hulkenberg and Gasly’s collision, with Verstappen leading the field under the 25-lap maximum stint lengths for tires. Norris and Piastri, the race leaders, chose not to pit, whereas Verstappen only required one stop. The decision set the stage for a thrilling title showdown in Abu Dhabi, with Norris leading on 408 points, followed by Verstappen on 396 and Piastri on 392. Despite the outcome, Norris stood by McLaren’s strategy and emphasized the team’s decision-making process. Looking ahead to Abu Dhabi, Norris remained resolute that his approach would not waver and expressed confidence in bouncing back from a challenging weekend.
