Lando Norris handed unusual reason for Madrid victory escape

David Coulthard has pointed to an unusual problem that cost Lando Norris victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The reigning champion held the lead of the race early on and was in a commanding position as he stretched out his lead over the competition.

However, his event came undone by the timing of a virtual safety car (VSC). Having passed the pit entry after it was deployed, Norris' rivals got a cheap pit stop and jumped ahead of him when the McLaren driver pitted the next time around, right as the VSC ended.

Norris was left to make do with the race in third place, and Coulthard suggested it would have played out much differently for him if he had not been so quick in the first stint.

“Life isn't perfect,” Coulthard told the Up To Speed podcast. 

“And what we all agree on is that Lando was unbelievable in the race. 

“Here's the problem: he was too quick. Had he been slower, he would have managed to get in under the virtual safety car.

“But because he pulled out that four or five-second lead, he suddenly was the one who was the victim of it. Unlucky for Lando.”

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Coulthard defends McLaren strategy

Some questioned McLaren's strategy to bring Norris in when he did, as the VSC was coming to an end, knowing he would lose track position.

But Coulthard stated Norris' tyres were nearing the end of their life, making that lap the optimial time to make the pit stop.

“Then they pitted pretty much at the end of the virtual [safety car] to get those medium tyres off because they felt they were not going to go the distance,” he said.

“So they had to pit anyway, and they were going to have to take a full hit. 

“So using the gap they would they could get into was the best option for them at that time. 

“Plus, they had a bit of a slow stop, the front right wasn't working for them.”