Norris on cloud nine to score McLaren Imola podium "on merit"
Norris on cloud nine to score McLaren Imola podium "on merit"
Lando Norris was ecstatic to have secured the second podium finish of his Formula 1 career after claiming third in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola "on merit" for McLaren.
Norris was left bitterly disappointed after losing his fastest time in qualifying that denied him third on the grid, instead starting seventh.
But the Briton successfully put this emotion behind him to stand on the podium at the end of a thrilling race.
"I'm happy," said Norris. "I think a nice recovery after yesterday. A long race, a tough one but I didn't start so well. It was a tough start but I came back, I had good pace.
"I tried hanging on to second but Lewis was a bit too quick for me today.
"It's nice to be fighting these guys, to be there on merit and there on pure pace and hopefully we can have some more in the future."
As Hamilton closed in on the McLaren driver in the final laps, Norris reported his clutch was slipping but after the race revealed: "That was just my kneepad was hitting my clutch paddle so it was my own mistake."
A red-flag period caused by heavy contact between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell presented an opportunity for drivers to switch strategy without the pain of making a pit stop.
Whilst others fitted the medium compound tyre, Norris opted to run the soft in a bid to make up early positions and take his pain later.
He explained: "We opted to go on the softs for the restart and I had good pace in the first 10-15 laps but I knew I would struggle a lot towards the end. Especially with Lewis behind me, it was not going to be easy but I tried.
"I held on for two or three or four laps but in the end, I just couldn't hang on but I'm happy with third. I'm not disappointed."
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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