Norris slates ‘talking nonsense’ critics after ‘unfair’ F1 low

Lando Norris has criticised people for “talking nonsense” about his early exit from qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Norris failed to advance out of Q1 on Saturday and ended the session in 17th position, marking his worst result of the year.

Replays showed that Norris rode the kerb on the exit of the corner which unsettled his car before he later revealed he had to slow for a yellow flag.

Norris highlighted the injustice of the flag that was brought out due to a slow-moving car that did not have an issue and stated people reached the wrong conclusion over his early exit.

“This was one of the most unfair things that I think has happened in a long time,” Norris said.

“I went off the track, yes, but then there’s the yellow flag and you [the audience] can’t see the flag.

“So everyone was talking about the white flag and all this nonsense. What they can’t see is my dash, which had big yellow lights on. 

“So a lot of people are talking nonsense and stuff like that. But I had to lift and that took away my chances.”

Norris pleased with race execution

Norris was boosted up to 15th on the starting grid and rose to fourth place at the chequered flag while team-mate Oscar Piastri secured victory.

The result allowed McLaren to jump Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, with the former now leading the standings with seven races to go.

Despite feeling the team did not maximise its points tally from Baku, Norris commended McLaren for its race execution.

“We were not happy as a team after [Saturday] night because we knew we could have had two cars up there.,” Norris reflected.

“And when you look at where Oscar finished, we knew we could have had two cars right at the top. And that’s what we love to see.

“So there’s more potential. I don’t think we’re very happy with the weekend because we want perfection. 

“And this weekend was not perfect. But when you look at the race and how we executed it, I think everyone should be very happy.”