McLaren’s Qatar Strategy: Norris Explains Fourth Place Result

Norris Defends McLaren Strategy Despite Fourth-Place Finish in Qatar

Lando Norris insists he’s comfortable with McLaren’s race decisions after finishing fourth at the Qatar Grand Prix, keeping the championship battle alive heading into Abu Dhabi.

“We thought we did what was correct,” Norris told GPblog after the race.

The British driver maintained that his team made reasonable strategic calls, even though they ultimately cost him a shot at victory.

“We did many things differently, but we thought we did what was correct, so nothing was wrong,” he explained.

Norris doubled down on supporting his team’s decisions despite the disappointing result.

“I still had a long race ahead of me, so I had to focus and do my best.”

When asked if he should have followed Max Verstappen into the pits when others pitted around lap seven, Norris admitted there might have been a missed opportunity.

“Probably, yeah. But both of us should have done it. I would have been ahead either way, you know, because we would have double-stacked, and potentially I would have lost a bit of time.”

He doesn’t think the pit strategy would have cost him position on track, though.

“I probably wouldn’t have lost a position, I don’t think. But yeah, it’s something we’ll go and talk about and review. You know, I also have to have faith that the team is making the right call, and that’s what I heard today,” he concluded.

The fourth-place result means the championship battle remains alive heading into the season finale.

Verstappen now leads by just 12 points as the title fight goes down to the wire at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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