In Brazil, Lando Norris had a golden opportunity to catch up with Max Verstappen in the championship standings. However, things took an unexpected turn when Verstappen clinched victory despite starting from P17.
Norris initially lost the lead to George Russell but stayed in the fight for the win. During a virtual safety car, he opted for new intermediate tires while Verstappen stayed out. This decision proved pivotal as a red flag due to rain and Franco Colapinto’s crash allowed Verstappen a free pit stop, giving him an edge over Norris.
Did Norris Miss His Big Chance?
After the restart, Norris found himself back in fourth place but made mistakes that dropped him further down to finish sixth. Meanwhile, Verstappen secured the win. “It turned around quickly,” said Jeroen Bleekemolen, reflecting on how Norris seemed poised to close the gap on Verstappen after winning the sprint race and starting from pole. Yet, he missed the chance to shake up the championship standings. “He did throw that one away,” Bleekemolen remarked candidly.
Following the race, Norris commented on Verstappen’s luck in Brazil. Bleekemolen thought it was unfair to blame luck entirely: “I thought it was a bit lame that he threw it partly on luck at Verstappen and Red Bull.” The Dutch driver emphasized that Verstappen and his engineer had planned for such scenarios, constantly discussing a potential red flag situation.
Pressure or Panic?
When asked if pressure got to Norris, Bleekemolen explained how trying too hard can backfire in sports. “If things don’t go well at once, then you try harder,” he said. But sometimes effort isn’t enough; it needs to come naturally. In racing, pushing too much can ruin everything—like braking later when it’s unnecessary.
Fans might wonder if patience is what sets champions apart.
Bleekemolen admired how Verstappen moved from P17 to P1 without rushing risky moves. He waited patiently behind Leclerc instead of forcing overtakes unnecessarily: “It will come to me, calm down,” seemed to be his mantra. When athletes panic upon seeing rivals ahead unexpectedly, their thoughts get scrambled—just like what happened with Norris.
What do you think? Was it just bad luck or something more?
