Norris concedes Piastri “deserved” F1 Belgian GP win despite strategy gamble

Lando Norris believes his McLaren Formula 1 team-mate Oscar Piastri was the rightful winner of the Belgian Grand Prix, dismissing ideas he could have caught him with a perfect performance. 

Norris started on pole but was jumped by Piastri when the safety car peeled into the pits as the track began to dry and immediately fell over a second behind the Australian.

However the pair were circulating too closely on track for McLaren to attempt a double stop upon the switch to slick tyres, and Norris instead opted for harder rubber – compared to Piastri’s mediums – when he pitted one lap later.

But Norris’ pursuit of his team-mate was blighted by a couple of mistakes that meant he was unable to close within three seconds.

“Oscar just did a good job [at the start],” said Norris. “Nothing more to say. Committed a bit more through Eau Rouge, and had the slipstream and got the run. 

“So nothing to complain of. He did a better job in the beginning, and that was it. Nothing more I could do after that point. I would love to be up top, but Oscar deserved it today.”

With the Briton on the hard tyre compared to Piastri’s mediums, it was a possibility that the Australian would have to make his race a two-stop while Norris went long. But this failed to come to fruition, with Piastri managing to nurse his tyres through to the end of the race. 

Pushed on whether he could have reached his team-mate if he had driven a perfect race, Norris admitted there would still be no catching Piastri. 

“It’s shoulda, woulda, coulda,” said Norris. “Oscar deserved it. I’m sure he made a couple of mistakes, so if he drove a perfect race, I couldn’t have won today. I’ll review my things. 

“But I’m still happy for the team. Another 1-2. I think our first here for many, many years. A well-deserved result for them and Oscar, too.”

Next week the F1 circus heads to Hungaroring – a venue that Norris believes will suit him better.

“Budapest is one of the best ones for me, in terms of what I’ve done there in the past years, and it’s where I started my Formula 1 career,” he said. “So, always good memories, and normally one that suits me a bit better than Spa.”