In a bold move during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Norris joined a select group of drivers who chose to maintain track position by refraining from pitting when Lance Stroll’s crash necessitated a safety car intervention early in the race.
Starting from sixth on the grid, Norris found himself leading the pack upon the race restart, successfully holding off Max Verstappen for two laps before eventually conceding positions to Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc.
Alongside Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg, and Zhou Guanyu, Norris hoped for a fortuitous later safety car period that would facilitate a cost-effective pit stop.
However, the race unfolded without interruption to the checkered flag, compelling Norris to pit earlier than planned to cover Hamilton’s switch to soft tires in the final laps. Despite his efforts, Norris finished eighth, two places below his starting position.
Reflecting on McLaren’s strategic decision, Norris defended the team’s choice to remain on track, asserting that it was essential to explore alternative tactics rather than passively trailing behind competitors.
“I think it was the correct call to make,” Norris remarked when questioned about the decision. “Sometimes I feel like we’re a little bit safe. And it’s nice to be a little bit more aggressive, and try something different. So I’m happy with our decision.”
Acknowledging that hindsight may question the effectiveness of the strategy, Norris maintained satisfaction with the team’s willingness to take risks and explore unconventional approaches.
Despite the strategic setback, Norris recognized the necessity of following Hamilton’s tire strategy, opting to switch to soft tires to counter his rival’s maneuver.
“The softs were I think the correct thing, but five laps later,” Norris conceded. “But I had to cover Lewis, so that kind of had us over a little bit. But I think we gave it the best effort we could.”
While the decision presented an opportunity to challenge Ferrari rookie Oliver Bearman and retain his position ahead of Hamilton, Norris ultimately fell short, praising Bearman’s impressive debut performance.
Although Norris narrowly avoided penalty scrutiny for a pre-race incident, his focus remains on refining McLaren’s strategic approach for future races, embracing calculated risks to maximize performance on the track.
Also read: The Reason Norris Avoided a Jump Start Penalty in the F1 Saudi Arabian GP