McLaren has made a strategic decision regarding Lando Norris, which could potentially shift the dynamics of the current Formula 1 season. With the championship battle intensifying and Norris trailing behind Max Verstappen by 59 points in the standings, McLaren has confirmed that Norris will now be given No 1 status within the team. This move comes ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with eight grands prix and three sprint races still to go.
For many, this decision has been long anticipated, while others argue that it may have arrived too late in the season. With teammate Oscar Piastri being informed that preference will be given to Norris, albeit with some uncertainty in certain scenarios, the pressure is now on Norris to deliver strong performances consistently.
Should Norris manage to catch up to Verstappen and secure his first world championship in Abu Dhabi in December, it would undoubtedly be one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of Formula 1. However, to achieve this feat and capitalise on his recent exceptional qualifying performances, Norris needs to address a significant issue that has plagued him throughout his F1 career – his struggles at the start line on race days.
To date, Norris has started from pole position seven times in Formula 1 races, yet on all seven occasions, he has failed to maintain the lead beyond the first lap. These recurring issues at race starts have raised questions about what exactly has been going wrong for Norris in these crucial moments.
The first instance dates back to the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, where Norris secured his maiden pole position but lost the lead to Carlos Sainz in a critical turn-two overtake manoeuvre. Despite his efforts to regain the lead, unforeseen circumstances, including a downpour and tyre strategies, ultimately cost Norris the victory.
In the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint of 2023, Norris once again found himself losing the lead on the first lap to both Max Verstappen and George Russell. The trend continued in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint of 2024, where Norris dropped from pole to seventh position after a challenging start against Lewis Hamilton.
Even in races where Norris managed to secure strong qualifying positions, such as the Spanish Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this year, his struggles at the start led to compromising outcomes, preventing him from converting pole positions into race wins.
Despite these setbacks, Norris did showcase his abilities in the Dutch Grand Prix of 2024, where he recovered from a poor start to eventually overtake Verstappen and claim victory. However, the inconsistency in his race starts remains a critical aspect for Norris to address if he aims to consistently secure lights-to-flag victories in the future.
Most recently, at the Italian Grand Prix in 2024, Norris once again faced challenges from Piastri and Charles Leclerc, ultimately losing out on maintaining his pole position advantage. These instances highlight the need for Norris to exhibit more composure and efficiency during the opening laps of races to maximise his chances of winning.
As the F1 season progresses, all eyes will be on Lando Norris to see if he can overcome his start line struggles and capitalise on his undeniable potential to make a championship-winning push. For Norris, refining his race starts could be the key to unlocking greater success on the track and potentially clinching the coveted Formula 1 world championship title.