Lando Norris took fifth place in the Australian Grand Prix despite losing multiple seconds per lap as McLaren urged him to lift-and-coast to save fuel.
The McLaren driver secured the team’s best result of the season so far in Melbourne, one place ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, who was told to follow his team mate home.
Norris lost six seconds over the final three laps. Team radio revealed he was instructed by race engineer Will Joseph to undergo heavy lifting and coasting over the run to the flag.
“We’re managing an issue,” Joseph told his driver at the start of the 56th lap. “Daniel’s five seconds behind. I want to use [lift and coast] up to those five seconds. Daniel will not put pressure on you.”
After crossing the line to secure fifth position, Norris was told to “save as much fuel as possible on the in-lap, please.”
Meanwhile Ricciardo had been told “we’re managing something on Lando’s car, we don’t want to put him under pressure,” with two laps to go….