Norris had “sketchy” end to Chinese GP with brake issue

Lando Norris admits he was fortunate to complete the Chinese language Grand Prix having taken second place regardless of a worsening brake problem to stay on the prime of the System 1 drivers’ championship.

Whereas his team-mate Oscar Piastri secured victory in Shanghai, Norris needed to handle a brake downside within the closing phases and saved George Russell at bay after twice passing the Mercedes on observe.

Having received the opening race in Australia and brought a degree within the dash race in China, Norris’ second place leaves him on 44 factors, eight factors away from Max Verstappen within the standings.

Norris revealed the group knew concerning the problem with the entrance brakes earlier than reporting it over the group radio with seven laps remaining.

“I’d quite end second than under no circumstances, no arduous braking,” race engineer Will Joseph instructed Norris, earlier than saying the scenario had change into “important” on the penultimate lap.

Russell closed up by over three seconds on the ultimate lap however Norris held on to safe a fiftieth McLaren 1-2 in F1.

“He would have gotten me subsequent lap, yeah,” Norris admitted to Sky Sports activities F1.

“I used to be fortunate to complete the race immediately which isn’t one thing you wish to be saying. I imply, brakes are one thing you hate however one thing you actually do want, they usually can prevent, save your life.

“So a sketchy final couple of laps, as a result of the brakes have been getting worse and worse each lap, and the final couple of laps I am three or 4 seconds off, so fairly nervous.

“I believe the group knew about the issue a lot earlier than they instructed me about it, in order that they wished to maintain me calm.

“So not good in any respect from that facet as a result of we’re fortunate to have completed the race, however to complete with a 1-2 makes us very blissful. It is what we wished to come back into the weekend with, and it is what we achieved, so yeah, an excellent day for the group.”

Having admitted to creating errors in dash qualifying, the dash race and qualifying for the grand prix itself, Norris put in a greater efficiency on Sunday.

He received previous Russell into the primary nook to take second place, and once more after the undercut labored in favour of the Mercedes man following the one and solely spherical of stops for the leaders.

Requested if he may have challenged Piastri for the win with out the brake complication, Norris replied: “It does not actually matter, does it? I’d have liked to have challenged Oscar immediately, however he drove nicely. I had the tempo for certain particularly as a result of in soiled air it is much more difficult like we have seen all weekend, however I do suppose the tempo was there.

“However Oscar deserved it utterly. He took pole yesterday after which a win immediately, so he is pushed very nicely. A disgrace about my brakes in the long run, however that is life. We’ll take it on the chin and transfer on.”

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs

Each McLaren drivers now have a grand prix win to their title in 2025 and, heading to Japan in a fortnight, Norris was a lot happier than when he first took to the observe in Shanghai.

“I imply it should be thrilling, it is thrilling for all of us,” he added.

“It is robust however I am nonetheless feeling good. With how unhealthy the automotive had been yesterday and the day earlier than I actually felt like few steps behind all weekend.

“By way of driving personally and simply with the automotive steadiness immediately issues got here in the direction of me much more and the tempo distinction from immediately to yesterday confirmed simply how a lot having a automotive that fits you versus a automotive that does not go well with you may make, as a result of I felt like I in all probability had one of the best tempo on the market immediately.

“It does not imply I’ll win with one of the best tempo, however I felt, like, very assured immediately, and I felt the exact opposite yesterday, so a constructive when it comes to learnings and takeaways for the following few weekends.

“Although I have been driving a McLaren for six, seven years, this weekend was a whole new one for me and I needed to change a number of issues in my driving, so glad that I received some solutions.”