In his year of wasted pole positions, Norris hit a new low in Austin · RaceFans

Lando Norris’ repeated failure to keep the lead when starting from pole position had become a statistical millstone around his neck by the time Formula 1 arrived in Singapore for the 18th round of the championship.

There, Norris claimed pole position for the sixth time this year, and faced the by-now expected barrage of questions over whether he would keep that advantage when the red lights went out.

Finally, he did. Norris dropped the clutch and kept a car’s length ahead of closest rival Max Verstappen, sweeping into turn one ahead, from where he duly claimed his third grand prix victory of the season.

But if McLaren thought Norris had finally grasped the key to maintaining the all-important advantage of leading at the start, those hopes were shattered in Austin.

Many times this year Norris’ starts have been undermined by a poor initial getaway. This was what allowed Verstappen to get alongside him from second on the grid in Spain and the Netherlands, and Lewis Hamilton to do likewise in the Shanghai sprint race.

However in his last three starts from pole position Norris made a much stronger initial getaway. He did so at Monza, only for team mate Oscar Piastri to mug him for the lead at the second chicane. In Singapore he held his advantage for the one and only time this year.

In Austin, however, Norris threw away arguably his hardest-won pole position of the season despite having got off the line well. What’s more, he surrendered a precious advantage to the championship leader at a time when he needs every point he can get his hands on.

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Verstappen was the clear favourite for pole position in Q3 the day before but Norris beat him to it through a combination of excellent driving and fortune. Norris’ first run in Q3 was clean while Verstappen missed the apex at turn 19, and neither driver got their second runs in due to the yellow flags caused by George Russell.

Starting from pole position offers the advantage of running in clear air, which is especially important given the sensitivity of F1’s Pirelli rubber. Moreover, front row occupants Norris and Verstappen knew the two Ferraris behind them posed a serious threat. All of which makes Norris’ course of action after getting away cleanly all the more baffling.

In the sprint race at the same track last year Verstappen showed precisely how to retain the advantage of a half-decent start from…