Why Austria presents a turning point for Norris for the third F1 season in succession

As much as McLaren will want to move on from Lando Norris’ Canadian Grand Prix clash with Oscar Piastri when it comes to the subject of Austria, it will invariably remain a talking point at the Red Bull Ring race.

Norris largely headed off most of the criticism by owning up to the incident immediately after it took place. In his post-race debrief, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella also appreciated the swift expression of mea culpa, stating that he was at least happy to see some of McLaren’s ‘values’ being adhered to – even if Norris transgressed the bit where he hit Piastri.

But as much as McLaren may appreciate that, it probably knows that it can’t be seen to do nothing. How it guides Norris away from this incident, and ensures no further repeat of an internecine and intra-team collision, will be handled behind closed doors. Stella added after the Canada clash that “definitely there will be good conversations, but they will happen once we are all rested and calm, and we have the possibility to take all the learning and discharge what doesn’t have to come with us in the future.”

It helps that Austria is a much more conventional circuit, and thus McLaren should tend towards its usual frame of performance; as such, Norris should have the opportunity to atone for his error with a clean run.

This will arguably prove to be the third time in succession that Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring, draped upon the foothills of the Styrian Alps, will play host to a pivotal race for Norris’ fortunes. It’s been a fortuitous venue for the Bristolian, being the place where he first stood upon an F1 podium, and one that has defined his journey in F1 so far.

Take 2023, for example. McLaren had predicted that it would begin the year in poor form – and it proved to be thus as its MCL60 struggled for performance in the opening rounds. As Stella redefined the technical structure of the team, it began to work on redefining most of the car’s aerodynamic surfaces. This culminated in a hefty upgrade package for the Austrian Grand Prix, of which Norris was the sole recipient; Piastri would get the upgraded car next time out at Silverstone, as Norris took a further batch of updates at his home race.

Following the Canada round, McLaren had occupied sixth in the constructors’ standings – albeit with a scant 17 points, 27 shy of fifth-placed Alpine, and 137 behind third-placed Aston Martin. But the Austria race demonstrated that McLaren had made decisive progress with its car; Norris qualified fourth, lost a place to Lewis Hamilton at the start and a couple more under a virtual safety car stop, but ultimately converted his starting position into a fourth-placed finish.

This proved to be the turning point in McLaren’s season; if any further proof was needed that its exploits in Austria weren’t simply a one off, the early surge into the lead at the British Grand Prix solidified the team’s sudden vault towards the top. McLaren overturned that 137-point deficit to Aston Martin, and ended the year 22 points ahead of the Silverstone squad.

Equally, 2024 was something of a turning point – albeit, with a less felicitous result at the end of it. While Max Verstappen and Red Bull proved to be devastating in qualifying with a 0.404s advantage, and subsequently looked set to streak off into the distance, Norris hit back over the final part of the race (admittedly helped by a very slow Verstappen pitstop) and turned the screw on the Dutchman.

But it all ended in tears; Norris tried to pass around the outside at Turn 3, Verstappen was not for moving, and the two collided at the top of the hill. While it was not an immediate swing in Norris’ fortunes, it did impress upon him the value of a) taking a more circumspect approach in battling Verstappen, and b) it’s easier to win races if you’re making the most out of qualifying and the starts.

Thus, Norris needs Austria to offer some fortune if he is to stay in the championship fight. The Canada blunder creaked open Piastri’s title advantage to 22 points, one that the Australian will not be willing to let drop again unless misfortune befalls him.

It’s all about the approach from the Briton here; if he shakes off the internal noise and takes the opportunities presented to him, Austria can become the start of the way back into contention. If not, then it’ll be remembered as the point where Norris failed to react appropriately to the Canada clanger. Whatever he does at the Red Bull Ring will define the rest of the season.

Piastri, meanwhile, has barely put a foot wrong this season. Ending a run of mistakes is one obstacle for Norris to overcome; toppling the laconic Australian from his perch is quite another.