Following his second-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, Lando Norris has expressed doubts regarding McLaren`s race strategy against Max Verstappen.
Throughout the 53-lap race at Suzuka, Norris closely trailed Verstappen. Both drivers pitted in the same lap, and Norris nearly pulled alongside Verstappen upon exiting the pit lane, marking his closest attempt to overtake for the lead.
Despite staying within sight of Verstappen, Norris was unable to get within DRS range as Verstappen expertly managed his pace to secure victory in the first race of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Norris commented, “I could see Max clearly throughout the race but couldn`t close the gap. Clean air was enough for him to maintain his lead, and he didn`t make any errors. He drove a strong race.”
He added, “In hindsight, the race outcome was largely determined by yesterday`s qualifying. Starting position is crucial for winning chances.”
“Our race pace was likely slightly better, but not sufficiently so to overcome the dirty air and get into DRS range. Overtaking here is notoriously difficult.”
Norris reflected on strategic options, “We explored different approaches. Perhaps we could have been more aggressive with strategy, like an overcut or undercut. We pitted on the same lap, which is something we`ll review. Still, it`s a good points haul for the team and for me. Second place is decent, though naturally, I wanted more.”
Stella Defends McLaren`s Strategy Decisions
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella defended the team`s strategy choices. He explained the decision to pit Oscar Piastri, who was running third, first, stating it was to respond to potential threats from behind and ensure Piastri`s race wasn`t compromised.
Addressing why Norris wasn`t given an undercut opportunity, Stella said pitting Norris first would have negatively impacted Piastri`s race, particularly with competitors like Russell also pitting.
Stella dismissed the option of extending Norris`s stint to gain a tire advantage later, arguing data indicated that staying out longer wouldn`t have been faster than pitting at the chosen time, referencing George Russell`s pace on hard tires after a later pit stop.
He concluded by highlighting the difficulty of overtaking at Suzuka, stating, “It takes about eight-tenths of a second advantage to launch an attack. Once within one second, dirty air reduces performance. Overtaking today seemed impossible.”
Pit Lane Incident: Norris and Verstappen
Norris nearly overtook Verstappen in the pit lane after a slow Red Bull pit stop brought them close as they exited. Verstappen maintained his position, forcing Norris onto the grass.
Norris joked about the incident in the press conference, “Our pit stop was excellent under pressure. It was our chance to close up. I wasn`t trying to race Max, just cutting the grass! Didn`t even see him. He held position fairly.”
Verstappen quipped, “The grass wasn`t well-cut on the right. Lando probably just wanted to ensure it was nicely trimmed.”
Despite not securing the win, Stella concluded that the race outcome largely mirrored qualifying results and emphasized the positive points gained for McLaren, acknowledging the improving competitiveness of rival teams.
