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
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
What was "weird" about McLaren's poor performance at rough Sepang
F1 doesn't need to change its VSC rules despite Lando Norris' Spain loss
Andrea Stella: F1 must avoid Sepang repeat, but "accept occasional glitches"
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
The slick tyre gamble that hurt McLaren and Ferrari's Bahrain F1 chances
George Russell: "No-brainer" to run previous car as Mercedes splits specifications for Singapore
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
New Manthey structure: Why Porsche is increasing its stake despite crisis
USA WRC return and key 2027 calendar questions answered
No denying it now – the one reason why F1’s ‘horrible’ start in Malaysia could be a good thing
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
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