Norris laments 'mistakes' as he gives Piastri win verdict

Cal Gaunt
Sunday 8 October 2023 09:57

Lando Norris' disappointment was evident but he was gracious in defeat as his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri secured his maiden Formula 1 win in the Qatar Sprint.

Norris started the Sprint slowly after claiming P2 in the Shootout, with Piastri regaining the lead from George Russell and fending off now-three-time world champion Max Verstappen to take the win.

Despite good pace, Norris struggled to keep up with his Aussie team-mate and Verstappen - but there were positives to take from a third-place finish heading into Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix.

Norris has yet to secure an F1 victory in his five-season career, but Piastri's swift success is something Norris can only applaud.

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Hats off to Piastri

“First of all congrats to Oscar [Piastri] and congrats to Max [Verstappen]," Norris told Sky Sports F1. “Yeah, his first win, earlier than mine so a big well done to him.

“[It was a] tough race for me, just a bad start, made everything much trickier but we fought back well. Some fun racing, good overtakes all the way to the last lap on George [Russell] so, tough but another podium for us and for the team it’s been a mega day.

“I think we knew from the beginning we could, especially with everyone on the softs. The softs were a lot better for lap one, the opening stages of the race. I mean they were even lucky there were so many safety cars.

OSCAR PIASTRI, #F1SPRINT WINNER! 🏆

A day you will remember for the rest of your life, @OscarPiastri. What a drive! 🙌🧡#QatarGP🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/3sQhomNPBn

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 7, 2023

"If there weren’t so many safety cars I think easily the medium would have been a better choice. It was a tough fight, not the best of beginnings but a good ending.

“I’ve been trying a long time, but Oscar’s done a mega job. He's done it the whole of this weekend. I made a lot of mistakes and he hasn’t and he’s capitalised and done a better job so hats off to him.”

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