Lando Norris claims Max Verstappen’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix win was ‘not talent, just luck’, with his own F1 title hopes in tatters.
After winning Saturday’s sprint and qualifying on pole, it seemed that Norris was to have the perfect weekend, especially with Verstappen starting the race in 17th.
But the McLaren driver lost the lead off the line to George Russell and struggled in the very wet conditions while Verstappen thrived in his Red Bull.
But the pivotal moment came when McLaren opted to pit Norris for fresh tyres, dropping him down the order and behind Verstappen who had stayed out.
This decision proved costly as soon after the red flag stopped the race after Franco Colapinto wrecked his Williams, giving the Dutchman a free pit-stop and allowing him to stay in front.
He went onto win while Norris finished sixth, with the gap in the championship now 62 points with just three grand prix to go, meaning Versappen can wrap up his fourth consecutive title at the next race in Las Vegas.
Speaking to Sky Sports, a crestfallen Norris said: ‘All about position loss. We were just under the red flag with the free pit stop for the others, so unfortunate, nothing more.
‘I don’t care about the hindsight side of things, that’s luck for them [Red Bull], nothing more. They got lucky on a rule that no one agrees with. Probably them they agreed with it but every driver has disagreed with it in the past.
‘Today it benefitted then, it could have benefitted us if we just stayed out, but that’s a stupid thing to think of. Just a bit unlucky today, nothing more. Of course, disappointing.
‘[Max] drove well, he got a bit lucky but that’s life.’
He later added: ‘The race shouldn’t have been red flagged. That’s life sometimes.
‘You take a gamble and it paid off for them. It’s not talent, it’s just luck.’
To make matters worse for the Brit, he is one of four drivers under investigation for an infringement at the start of the race and could still receive a penalty that drops him down the order.
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