Lando Norris maintained a defiant stance after finishing seventh in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, insisting he had done all he could despite failing to capitalize on teammate Oscar Piastri’s early crash.
The race in Baku delivered drama from the start as Piastri retired on the opening lap, potentially handing Norris a golden chance to close the 31-point gap in the title fight. Instead, the British driver left Azerbaijan with only six points, unable to make significant inroads on his rival.
Norris accepted that the result was far from ideal but rejected the notion that he had squandered an opportunity. He pointed to his qualifying struggles, where a scruffy lap and poor timing left him stuck in the midfield on a circuit notoriously difficult for overtaking. He admitted the damage had been done on Saturday.
His race was further compromised by a slow pit stop, the second in as many weekends, costing him the chance to move up the order. Locked in DRS trains for most of the afternoon, Norris felt his performance was close to the maximum possible under the circumstances. He emphasized that while it may not have looked impressive from the outside, the lack of pace and overtaking opportunities made progress almost impossible.
“I could have taken bigger risks and ended up in the wall,” Norris reflected after the race. “I know I have a lot of points to make up, but I’ll just keep my head down and focus on the next races.”
Elsewhere, George Russell provided one of the standout performances of the day. Despite battling illness all weekend, the Mercedes driver fought through the discomfort to secure an impressive second place. His team had even considered replacing him with a reserve driver earlier in the event, but Russell persevered to deliver a flawless drive.
The result was hailed as a testament to his resilience and determination, particularly on a demanding street circuit like Baku. His ability to withstand the physical and mental strain while avoiding errors underscored his growing reputation as one of the most consistent drivers on the grid.
As the championship fight continues, Norris remains determined to claw back the deficit to Piastri, while Russell’s grit in Azerbaijan served as a reminder of the toughness required to compete at the top level of Formula One.
