Lando Norris has started from pole position five times during his Formula 1 career. Of those five times, he has never led the race at the end of lap 1.
In the Hungarian GP on Sunday, a bad start enabled the team order controversy that overshadowed Oscar Piastri’s maiden victory.
Here’s a look at all the times a bad start from pole has cost Norris.
2021 Russian Grand Prix
Norris scored his first-ever Formula 1 pole position in mixed conditions at Sochi three years ago, lining up alongside Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. The Briton appeared to move quickly off the line when the lights went off, and managed to keep Sainz at bay initially without even having to move over the right to block him at the almost straight Turn 1.
Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari SF21, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, George Russell, Williams FW43B, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR21, Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521, and the rest of the field at the start
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
But the long run up to the second corner of the Russian circuit meant Norris was quickly under pressure from behind as both Sainz and then-Williams driver George Russell – third on the grid – quickly got into his slipstream.
As they approached the corner, Norris stayed on the right side to defend, but Sainz moved to the middle of the track, outbraked the McLaren and, barely keeping his car on the track, took the lead.
In a rain-hit race where McLaren opted to keep Norris on slicks, he went on to finish down in seventh place.
2023 Brazilian Grand Prix sprint
Although not regarded as a real pole position from a statistical point of view, Norris started from the top spot again at Interlagos last year when he was quickest in qualifying for the sprint race.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60 battles with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19 at the start of the race
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
The driver alongside Norris this time was Max Verstappen, who made a quick getaway and quite easily dived down the inside of the McLaren driver going into Turn 1. There was nothing Norris could do to defend, and although the Briton attempted to attack Verstappen at the end of the back straight, he stayed second, then quickly lost that position to Russell before the end of lap 1.
Norris managed to recover to finish second, some four seconds behind Verstappen.
2024 Chinese Grand Prix sprint
Norris secured the top spot on the grid for the first sprint race of 2024 alongside Lewis…
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