McLaren driver Lando Norris admitted feeling `lucky` to reach the finish line of the Chinese Grand Prix. He secured second place, following his teammate Oscar Piastri, despite a significant brake problem.
Norris was closely trailing Piastri, just three seconds behind, and potentially lost an opportunity to challenge for the lead when his brake pedal became unresponsive, hindering his car`s deceleration.
He managed to finish only 1.3 seconds ahead of Mercedes` George Russell, believing he would have been forced to retire had the race continued for a few more laps.
`The final laps were truly awful,` Norris recounted to Sky Sports F1. `I wouldn`t recommend driving like that! It`s akin to navigating a roundabout without brakes. It was far from pleasant. We weren`t entirely sure of the exact cause or nature of the issue.`
`We were fortunate to complete the race. George was merely a second behind at the end. A brake failure is a driver`s ultimate fear. It`s a terrible sensation when you apply the brakes and nothing happens, with the pedal sinking to the floor.`
`I barely had enough to finish, but one or two more laps and I doubt I would have made it.`
Stella: Brake Issue Unacceptable
The Shanghai International Circuit is known for its demanding braking zones, particularly at the end of the long straight, where a brake malfunction could lead to serious incidents.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed strong concern over the issue, acknowledging the potential for a major accident for Norris.
`I am pleased with the one-two finish. However, we were under pressure on the pit wall, and I`m sure the entire team and fans were too, due to a brake pedal problem on Lando`s car. We had to manage this for the last 20 laps,` Stella explained.
`Lando and the team performed admirably in adapting his driving style to this worsening problem, which jeopardized the entire result. This level of reliability issue is simply unacceptable.`
`We must improve, and this will be a key point we reiterate to the entire team. Despite their incredible work at a high level, we cannot afford issues that put such results at risk.`
Norris Praises `Amazing Team` for Top Car
Despite the brake issue, Norris still holds a lead in the F1 Drivers` Championship, eight points ahead of Max Verstappen, who finished fourth in the race.
McLaren`s performance in China reinforced their position as strong contenders, leading Mercedes by 25 points in the constructors` standings. Red Bull trails McLaren by 42 points, and Ferrari is 61 points behind after the disqualifications of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Norris added, `The team is doing a fantastic job maintaining the car`s strength. With consistent regulations, it becomes increasingly challenging to enhance car speed.`
`The team deserves immense credit for their winter efforts in providing us with such a capable car. A big thank you to everyone at MTC; it`s not easy. Hearing them describe the difficulties involved, we owe them a lot for delivering a car that performs so well.`
`While we may always find things to critique, it`s part of the drive for improvement! All credit to the team because we believe we have a top car, undeniably. We acknowledge it`s demanding to drive, more so than last season, but as we overcome this and improve further, our confidence will only grow.`
