Lando Norris enters Sunday’s 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix with an immense challenge ahead of him, starting 16th after a devastating yellow flag disrupted his final flying lap in qualifying. The McLaren driver, already trailing championship leader Max Verstappen by 62 points, now faces a crucial race at Baku City Circuit where strategy and a bit of luck could decide his fate. But how can Norris make his way to the front and salvage valuable points?
The good news for Norris is that he will start 16th instead of 17th, after Pierre Gasly’s disqualification due to a fuel flow irregularity. While that’s one less obstacle, Norris is still staring at a grid packed with formidable rivals, making his climb to the top a daunting task. The track’s history, however, shows that significant recovery is possible.
In past races, drivers like Kimi Raikkonen (2019) and Brendon Hartley (2018) have recovered from deep in the pack, both managing to secure points after starting from pit lane and 19th place, respectively. For Norris, this is encouraging—but far from a guarantee. The circuit’s layout and strategic constraints present unique challenges that could either help or hinder his efforts.
Strategic Options Are Limited
Baku is traditionally a one-stop race, which means Norris won’t have many opportunities to play around with strategy. His rivals will be on similar plans, making it harder to jump positions during pit stops. On top of that, DRS trains—a well-known phenomenon at the Baku circuit—can easily bottle up mid-pack drivers, preventing overtakes and potentially stalling Norris’ recovery.
In 2023, Esteban Ocon’s frustrating experience of being trapped in a DRS train highlighted how difficult it can be to move through the field here. Despite only pitting on the final lap, Ocon couldn’t capitalize due to the traffic in front of him. Norris must be wary of getting caught in a similar situation, which could nullify his efforts to climb into the points.
Safety Cars and Red Flags: Norris’ Best Hope?
The unpredictability of the Azerbaijan GP could play directly into Norris’ hands. The Baku City Circuit is notorious for its high rate of safety cars and red flags, given the close proximity of the walls and frequent crashes. Since the event’s inception in 2016, there have been six safety cars and two red flags, most notably in the chaotic 2017 edition, which saw three red flags.
Norris’ best chance may come from extending his first stint and gambling on a safety car or race stoppage to gain track position. If a safety car is deployed while Norris is running on older tires, he could gain several places by pitting later than his rivals. Even better, a red flag during a crucial phase of the race would allow him to change tires without losing position, potentially putting him in the mix for a top-10 finish.
With 51 laps and plenty of drama expected, Norris will need to play the long game and hope that the race’s unpredictable nature works in his favor. His pace has been solid all season, but Baku demands a mix of speed, patience, and a little bit of fortune.
The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 15:00 local time, with Charles Leclerc starting from pole and aiming for his second straight victory. For Norris, the focus will be on maximizing every opportunity to claw his way back into the points, possibly with some help from the chaos that Baku often delivers.
Norris fans in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia can catch the race live on their respective broadcasters or streaming platforms. Stay tuned as the McLaren driver takes on one of his toughest challenges yet!
