Lando Norris once again faced disappointment at the Hungarian Grand Prix, as a poor start from pole position left him in a challenging spot early on. This isn’t the first time Norris has struggled to maintain his lead from pole. Let’s dive into the five instances where a bad start cost him dearly.
Back in the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, Norris secured pole in mixed conditions. Initially, he seemed to have a strong start, defending his position against Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. However, the long straight to the second corner saw Sainz and George Russell slipstream past him. Despite a valiant effort, Norris ended up making a strategic error in the rain and finished seventh.
Fast forward to the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race. While this wasn’t an official pole position, Norris started at the top due to his qualifying performance. Unfortunately, Max Verstappen swiftly overtook him at Turn 1, and George Russell soon followed. Norris recovered to finish second, but it was a missed opportunity.
The 2024 Chinese Grand Prix sprint saw Norris on pole again, this time alongside Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton made a brilliant start and caught up with Norris by Turn 1. In a bid to stay ahead, Norris braked late but ended up going off track, dropping to sixth place by the finish. Another tough day for the McLaren driver.
At the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, Norris had what he described as the ‘quickest car on the field in Barcelona’. Yet, a poor start saw him being overtaken by both Verstappen and Russell by Turn 1. Though he finished second, just two seconds behind Verstappen, Norris considered it a race he should have won.
Most recently, at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris’ pole position was snatched away by teammate Oscar Piastri. Despite a decent getaway, Piastri and Verstappen pressured him into conceding the lead early on. The race became memorable more for team orders controversy than Norris’ solid yet unfulfilled performance.
While Norris’ talent is undeniable, these five races highlight a recurring struggle with starts from pole position. Each instance serves as a reminder of the crucial nature of race starts in Formula 1. Fans hope to see him conquer this hurdle soon and turn those starting advantages into victories.
