Norris suffers “worst nightmare” in Chinese GP sprint race
Lando Norris took just one point in the sprint race in Shanghai after another mistake cost the championship leader
Having admitted to making a mistake that cost him in sprint qualifying on Friday, Lando Norris again took the blame for a poor outing in Saturday’s Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix sprint race.
An error on his final qualifying run meant the McLaren man started sixth on the grid for the sprint race and he ran onto the grass at Turn 6, losing three places as a result.
The mistake left him in ninth and it took him almost the rest of the 19-lap race to pass the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll to take the final point.
The sprint was dominated by Lewis Hamilton, who won from pole, but almost every other driver struggled with tyre graining – something that Norris bemoaned after the race.
“I just went in a bit hot, that’s on me, but yeah, I just struggled after that. I didn't really have any pace,” he said about the incident on the opening lap.
“I struggle a lot in these conditions with the front graining. It's like my worst nightmare. So I have a lot of work to do, but I was struggling a lot out there.”
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Norris remains top of the drivers’ standings having won the opening race in Australia last weekend.
He conceded his sprint qualifying run was always going to make his task harder heading into the sprint race itself and is determined to improve his Chinese GP weekend when qualifying rolls around later on Saturday.
“I mean, it certainly didn't help,” he said of starting on the third row. “The further back you start, the harder it is. I just had a bad first lap. I started to run onto the grass into Turn 6 and I lost a couple of positions, and then it was just difficult to do a lot.
“Quali didn't help, but I just wasn't very good today either. [Qualifying] is just another session, I’m probably a bit more confident. But at the minute in the race, we just feel dreadful so a lot of work to do but that’s the way it is.”
Photos from Chinese GP - Sprint Race
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
Share Or Save This Story
F1 driver market – Who is tied down for 2026?
What’s next for sacked Red Bull boss Christian Horner?
How Mercedes will help Kimi Antonelli recover from a run of tough F1 results
Alpine makes statement as Franco Colapinto-related abuse accelerates
"A big mistake" - Devastated Franco Colapinto apologises to Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris for Baku F1 crash
F1 doesn't need to change its VSC rules despite Lando Norris' Spain loss
Why Mercedes is still quicker than McLaren
Jacques Villeneuve calls out Oscar Piastri after costly Azerbaijan GP error: "Rookie mistake"
How McLaren’s major F1 upgrade has been working in Baku
Wins v. big picture dominate Truck Series Chase discourse after Kansas
Jorge Martin “made us feel wanted” amid current MotoGP struggles, says Yamaha boss
Alpine makes statement as Franco Colapinto-related abuse accelerates
Kyle Busch Remembered: Rowdy's most notable moments at Kansas Speedway
Why Mercedes is still quicker than McLaren
Baku late-race chaos almost costs George Russell victory over Max Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments