Inexplicable Defense: Lando Norris’ Opening Lap Tactics Under Scrutiny by Martin Brundle at US Grand Prix

Lando Norris' puzzling defense against Max Verstappen under review

Martin Brundle shares his opinion on the first lap interactions between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix.

Renowned Formula 1 commentator Martin Brundle has called Lando Norris' effort to hold off Max Verstappen for the lead during the first lap of the United States Grand Prix as 'baffling'.

Norris excelled in the qualifying session, securing the top spot on the grid, outpacing the quicker Red Bull.

Sign up for our F1 newsletter to receive the newest updates, exclusive content, interviews, and special offers from the world of Formula 1 directly in your email.

To learn more, please review our Privacy Policy.

Taking advantage of the yellow flags triggered by George Russell, Norris managed to execute one of his most impressive laps in Formula 1 when it counted the most.

On the day of the race, Norris fell to fourth place during the first lap when Verstappen tried to pass him on the inside.

Max Verstappen's maneuver resulted in Charles Leclerc taking the lead right from the first corner of the race.

In his post-race column for Sky Sports F1, Brundle dissected the race's beginning, noting that Norris achieved an impressive lap to secure pole position during the main Grand Prix qualifying, while Verstappen experienced a slight delay at turn 19.

During the last attempt in Q3, it seemed unlikely that Norris would surpass his initial performance, while Verstappen seemed poised to enhance his own time. However, the session concluded unexpectedly when George Russell took a gamble on the entry curb at turn 19 and crashed into the barriers.

His vehicle required substantial repairs and was missing some enhanced components, forcing him to begin the race from the pit lane. As the Grand Prix commenced, all the drivers took off together, and Norris realized he needed to protect the inside track heading into the initial turn. This tactic had proven effective for him the previous day. Nevertheless, he unexpectedly left enough room on the inside, which Verstappen quickly took advantage of.

Both drivers ended up veering off course at the exit, with Norris leaving the track entirely. During the first lap, the race director and stewards tend to adopt a more forgiving stance, considering the likelihood of numerous close encounters among the cars. As a result, the incident wasn’t even brought up for the stewards to discuss.

Verstappen managed to finish before Norris following a contentious event at Turn 12, which led to Norris receiving a five-second penalty.

With only five races remaining, Norris is trailing Verstappen by 57 points.

Explore Further

Sign up for our F1 Newsletter

Receive the freshest updates, exclusive content, interviews, and deals from the F1 paddock straight to your email.

To learn more, please review our Privacy Policy.

Recent Updates

Additional Articles

Website Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to fully or partially copy text, images, or illustrations in any manner.