Norris has "hate" of gravel traps but believes they are right for F1

Tuscan Grand Prix

Norris has "hate" of gravel traps but believes they are right for F1

McLaren driver lost almost an hour after accident

Ewan Gale

Friday 11 September 2020 17:13 Updated: 17:45

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Lando Norris has declared his "hate" of gravel traps but believes it is right Formula 1 has retained them to punish drivers for their mistakes.

Norris dipped the left-hand side of the car into the gravel on the exit of Poggio Secco, the turn-three right-hander, swapping ends at high speed and making contact with the wall on the outside which resulted in him losing his front wing.

It left the Briton lamenting the loss of valuable high-fuel running on F1's first visit to Mugello, and the fact he was caught out by the gravel, but conceded he was lucky to emerge without heavier damage.

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Considering he would have escaped from his error at many other circuits that have replaced gravel traps with run-off areas, Norris said: "As much as I hate that there is gravel, because of crashing and damaging the car, it is better like this.

"I think it is more tricky and more challenging and it is what I think it should be like. Not ideal but it is what happens sometimes."

Replaying the accident, Norris added: "I think it felt a lot worse when I was in the car than what it looks like.

"I think there is some damage to the steering and to the rear. Nothing major. I don't think I damaged too much of the floor or the wings apart from the front wing, obviously.

"It could have been worse so I am lucky. It was a small mistake from my side which was quite costly. It cost me all of the high-fuel running in FP2 but it is what it is."

Along with team-mate Carlos Sainz, who finished second last time out at Monza to add to Norris' podium from the first race of the season, the duo could only manage 13th and 14th quickest.

Norris has revealed that a tricky car has left the team behind on its expectations.

"We were expecting to start the weekend a bit stronger," added Norris. "I don't think we have been bad or the car is slow.

"But it is just the car has been quite tricky and maybe we are not as competitive as we were expecting compared to the other teams. A bit of work to do."

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