Lando Norris joked a switch to Hard tyres for the late-race Safety Car restart proved McLaren was to give him "more of a test" after securing a sublime second at the British Grand Prix. The Woking-based outfit enjoyed a promising weekend with both cars now fitted with a major upgrade package initially given to Norris in Austria. The Briton took the lead off the line and held firm until Red Bull's Max Verstappen eventually eased through on lap five, though Norris' pace was strong enough to keep the Dutchman honest in the opening stint. But with a Safety Car period, triggered by Kevin Magnussen's stricken Haas, offering the frontrunners a free pit stop, McLaren opted to fit new Hard tyres to Norris' car whilst his rivals chose Softs. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton hounded Norris at the restart, with the duo embroiled in a thrilling duel through Brooklands, Luffield and Copse for multiple laps before the McLaren edged away with better tyre life. Hailing the "pretty insane" result, Norris said: "I want to say a big thanks to the whole team, they have done an amazing job. None of this would be possible without the hard work they have been putting in. "So pretty amazing, pretty insane to put up the fight. "It was an amazing fight with Lewis to hold him off. I made a few too many mistakes maybe but I did what I could. "I brought the fight to Max for as long as possible, it's a long and lonely race when you're just in the middle, but it's amazing." Addressing the switch to Hard tyres for the Safety Car restart, Norris joked: "They're still beginners at some things. "They just wanted to give me a bit more of a test I think. That's what Zak said anyway, so probably he pulled the shots on that one. "I wanted the Softs. I feel like it made a bit more sense. But I don't care - I was P2. "Pretty amazed. The whole in-lap I was just trying to wave to everyone."
Piastri unlucky
Norris' rookie teammate Oscar Piastri was keeping tabs with the top two across the first stint, only to be set back by the Safety Car's deployment. The Australian had made his switch to Hard tyres four laps prior to Magnussen's engine expiring, allowing Hamilton to secure a 'free' pit stop under neutralised conditions. Bemoaning his teammate's luck, Norris added: "Honestly, we should have had a P2-P3. Oscar did an amazing job all weekend and he should have been P3 without the Safety Car, so a shame - he deserved it."
Most read
