‘Stupid and embarrassing’ first corner error ruined my race

Lando Norris described his first corner error in the Belgian Grand Prix as “embarrassing” as he fell from fourth to finish fifth.

Norris ran side-by-side with team mate Oscar Piastri into the first corner, La Source, but ran wide on the exit and onto the gravel, despite appearing to have more room on the inside than he took, allowing George Russell and Carlos Sainz Jnr to overtake him.

The McLaren driver went on to finish sixth on the road behind Max Verstappen, having started ahead of his championship rival. Both gained a place after race winner Russell’s disqualification.

Speaking after the race, Norris admitted his error at the start compromised the rest of his afternoon. “Turn one ruined my chances of everything,” he told the official F1 channel.

“I just tried to avoid any contact with people on the inside and I just misjudged the kerb, and then I bottomed out on the kerb and I’ve got off. So a bit stupid, honestly. Almost embarrassing – actually, it was embarrassing. But the pace was very good. The car performed well, I actually felt pretty comfortable out there and in good shape. It’s just overtaking was impossible, so a bit stuck.”

Norris spent the last 14 laps of the race within striking range of Verstappen ahead, but was unable to challenge the championship leader for his position. Despite so many laps of DRS against his rival, Norris insisted there had been little he could have done to get around the Red Bull.

“It wasn’t even a battle,” he said. “I couldn’t even get close.”

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“I was close, it’s just you lose one second in the middle sector following and you can’t do anything after that. So it was a bit frustrating, I couldn’t make more progress. I felt like the pace was good in the car, but just not the pace to go forwards.”

McLaren had secured a one-two the previous weekend in Hungary but were beaten by Mercedes in the race. Norris says he was not surprised by the strong race pace of Mercedes at Spa.

“They had track position from the beginning and track position was king today,” Norris said.

“I feel like everyone just doubts them, doubts what Mercedes can do. They’ve been almost just as quick as us for the last month. Everyone underestimates what they can do and on a day like today, they just do what they are very capable of doing, and it’s a good job. So fair play to them.”