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Lando Norris

Lando Norris issues McLaren defence after mistake blows title fight wide open

McLaren pit-stop blunder cost Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Qatar - but Norris has firmly defended McLaren.

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Lando Norris has issued a firm defence of McLaren's decision not to pit under the Qatar Grand Prix safety car - a decision with huge title ramifications. 

After Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly collided, a Lap 7 safety car was called for, with Max Verstappen leading the rest of the pack in with the race being run under 25-lap maximum stint lengths for the tyres.

Both Norris and leader Oscar Piastri did not pit, meaning they were faced with two green-flag pit-stops whilst Verstappen only had one to do.

Verstappen ultimately won from Piastri with Norris fourth to set up a three-way title showdown in Abu Dhabi, with Norris on 408 points to Verstappen's 396 and Piastri on 392. (Full permutations are available below.)

Reflecting on the decision not to pit, Norris issued a firm defence of McLaren.

"We could have done many different things differently, but we didn't, and we did what we thought was correct, so nothing wrong," Norris told media, including RacingNews365. 

"There was still a long race ahead, so I had to focus and do my best, but probably, both of us [should have pitted behind the safety car].

"But I would have been had over either way because we would have double-stacked, and I would have potentially lost time, but I probably wouldn't have lost a position.

"It is something we will go and talk about and review, but I also have to have faith that the team are making the right calls, and that's what I had today.

When asked about his feelings heading to Abu Dhabi, Norris was adamant that nothing would change.

"It is the same as every weekend, I try and beat them, they try to beat me," he said.

"It is nothing different, so I just want to go to bed.

"There is nothing I can do about it; it is not our greatest day, not our greatest weekend, but the run of results I had before was great.

"So I put myself in this position, I'm still happy, but it wasn't our finest day, wasn't my finest weekend in terms of driving and putting things together, but that is life.

"Everyone has bad weekends, so I take it on the chin, and we will take it on the chin, and we will see what we can do."

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RESULTS 2025 F1 Qatar Grand Prix