Lando Norris has challenged Formula One to change a “stupid rule” after he was cruelly denied victory at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli took a major stride towards becoming the sport’s youngest world champion after he capitalised on Lance Stroll putting his Aston Martin in the wall to earn a free pit-stop during a Virtual Safety Car period and claim his eighth victory from the 14 rounds so far.
While fortune was on Antonelli’s side, Norris’ luck was out. The world champion was comfortably leading when Stroll crashed on the 14th lap.
But Norris drove past the pit-lane entry just as the VSC was deployed. Norris stopped on the next lap and a slow front-right tyre change lost the British driver even more time.
Having held a seven-second advantage over Antonelli prior to Stroll’s accident, Norris left the pits 13 seconds adrift of the Italian.
Norris began to demonstrate the speed in his McLaren that should have won him the race, and with 10 laps left he was one second behind Max Verstappen and just two seconds adrift of Antonelli.
But with overtaking impossible at this new street venue on the outskirts of the Spanish capital, Norris had to settle for third. He is now 106 points back and his hopes of defending his world crown all but over.
“We didn’t do anything that made us lose the race,” a deflated Norris said. “We were just insanely unlucky today.
“I was the only one on the whole grid who didn’t get a chance to do a pit-stop.
“That is just unfortunate. It has happened in races before, and I have gained from it in the past, but I have lost a win today and that is frustrating. I felt like I deserved more.
“It just hurts because there was nothing more I could do as a driver. I got pole, I led the race, and to lose it for nothing in my control is not how a race should be won.”
Pressed as to whether the rulebook should be tinkered, Norris continued: “It has been brought up many times over the years by different drivers.
“There are things that can be changed to make it more simple, and more fair. We could be covered for at least one lap (after the VSC is deployed) and that allows us all the opportunity to do a pit-stop, or the pit-entry could be blocked.
“This needs to be part of a wider discussion, and as a group of drivers, I think it is something we would all want. I have to take it on the chin today, but I hope it doesn’t happen to anyone again, because it is not the way a race should be lost.”
In a TV interview, Norris described it as a “stupid rule”.
Norris headed into Sunday’s inaugural fixture at the Madring with two wins from his last three appearances and, as he built a comfortable lead, a championship comeback might have been on his mind.
But the mood changed when Stroll crashed. Could McLaren have foreseen the VSC and pulled their man in a lap earlier?
“I will speak to the team,” he said. “But it is not the team’s fault, and it is not my fault. It’s as simple as that.”
Antonelli’s second win in a week – after his remarkable comeback display from 19th in Monza – puts him firmly on course to drive into the history books and usurp Sebastian Vettel (who was 23 when he claimed his first title in 2010) as the sport’s youngest champion.
He is 81 points clear in the standings after George Russell finished a disappointing fifth in the other Mercedes.
“It is great, but we have to keep pushing, keep delivering and trying to do the best job I can,” Antonelli said.
“Of course, it is a big lead, but you never know what can happen so I have to be ready for everything.”
