McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered a captivating performance at the Qatar Grand Prix, chasing Max Verstappen relentlessly until a costly penalty robbed him of a potential shot at victory. Team Principal Andrea Stella admitted that the outcome leaves lingering questions about whether the McLaren driver could have overtaken the reigning champion in the final laps.
The Incident That Changed Everything
The drama unfolded on Lap 31 as Norris, glued to Verstappen’s rear wing, failed to slow down for double-waved yellow flags triggered by Alex Albon’s dislodged mirror on the main straight. While Verstappen backed off in compliance, Norris inadvertently sped through, drawing a 10-second stop-and-go penalty—the harshest in-race punishment short of disqualification.
Dropped to the back of the pack, Norris fought valiantly to recover, but the damage to his race and McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship hopes was already done.
“Could He Have Won?” Stella Weighs In
Andrea Stella acknowledged McLaren’s late-race strength on hard tyres, a trait that has consistently given the team an edge in the closing stages this season. However, he tempered expectations about Norris’s ability to seal the deal against Verstappen.
“The pace on the Hard tyres was quite good,” Stella said. “But in those high-speed corners, the dirty air would have been a significant factor. Even with the DRS advantage, I’m not sure we would have had enough to overcome the effect.”
Norris Reflects: “Quickest Car I’ve Ever Driven”
For Norris, the penalty was a bitter pill to swallow. Confident in his MCL38, which he declared “the quickest car I’ve ever seen,” the Brit was bullish about his chances before the incident.
“I didn’t give up until the end,” Norris said. “The team gave me the best car out there today. I’m very happy and thankful for them to do so. I just need to not be an idiot and do what I did.”
The penalty not only cost him a potential victory but also allowed Ferrari to close the gap in the Constructors’ Championship to just 21 points. With the season finale in Abu Dhabi looming, every point matters.
The What-Ifs of Qatar
Norris’s penalty reignites the debate over Formula 1’s strict enforcement of yellow flag rules. While the FIA defends its zero-tolerance stance as a matter of safety, McLaren might question whether the punishment fit the crime, given the implications for their title aspirations.
Abu Dhabi Awaits
With Ferrari breathing down McLaren’s neck and the Constructors’ Championship still in the balance, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown in Abu Dhabi. For Norris, it’s a chance for redemption after what could have been a career-defining moment in Qatar.
