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Was Lando Norris’s horror end to the 2024 United States sprint at COTA a case of damage limitation or unnecessary added pain?
For a driver so introspective - sometimes to the point of self-deprecation - Norris’s stumble at the end of the sprint has the chance to compound his woes. You could say the upside for the McLaren driver is that he only lost two points to Verstappen on the road which he'd have probably taken after qualifying.
After that “shocking” sprint qualifying lap, Norris pulled off a brilliant start to scythe from fourth to second at the expense of Charles Leclerc and George Russell - but Norris churned through his medium tyres in pursuit of Verstappen ahead.
The title contender, now 54 points behind Verstappen heading into the 2024 United States Grand Prix - seemed set for second place until he locked up at Turn 1 on the final lap of the sprint. That's an error that's hardly going to help the perception of this being a campaign blighted by frustrating errors from both driver and team.
Norris's tyres were red hot at this point and it seemed only a matter of time before Leclerc would add to his misery. Norris defended his place doggedly leaving the back straight of Circuit of the Americas, and he was almost rear-ended by a surprised Leclerc going into the Turn 15-16 left-handers.
Things got a *tad* close between Norris and Leclerc at the end there... 😅 pic.twitter.com/VSXZQw2fmy
— The Race (@wearetherace) October 19, 2024
Leclerc called it foul play over the radio but measured his reaction after the sprint.
“I did not expect him to do that," Leclerc said.
"Maybe in the heat of the moment, I considered that moving under braking. It seems to be on the limit with the way he took the line but at the end, it’s racing as well so he wanted to keep the position.
“I tried, it was a close call, we nearly crashed.”
Meanwhile Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur added: “I think Lando moved a little bit under braking… I don't know if they had contact or not but it was very close and a bit dangerous.”
Norris was noted for driving “erratically” at Turn 15 but the stewards let him be as they explained: "There did not appear to be any significant changes of direction under braking.”
Norris said he was “pretty happy with how things ended up” after finishing third in the sprint.
“It was a tough one, I thought I could maybe hang onto second but Carlos did a good job but my front tyres were completely finished so there was not a lot I could do whether I stayed straight or defended or not, I’m pretty sure I would have lost the position to Carlos [anyway].
“A disappointing end, but I’m happy with the race result and a good amount of points.
“I did the most I could. I don’t think we had the pace on Max or the Ferraris, therefore I am happy to finish third.”
As mentioned, Verstappen extended his lead over Norris by just two points on Saturday - but ahead of qualifying for the 2024 United States GP the damage in this sprint could have been more serious.
Norris not only lost ground in the title race but Verstappen ended a win-less streak stemming nine weekends. The manner in which he's taken that victory will prove a valuable boost to the Dutchman.
Red Bull’s updated RB20 proved rapid on Saturday afternoon - at least in the hands of Verstappen as Sergio Perez could manage a point-less ninth place.
Not only was Verstappen’s pace ominous, but Ferrari’s too. Both Scuderia cars were gentle on their rear tyres to leave Mercedes in no man’s land, and this could end up another thorn in the side of McLaren in Sunday’s race.
Saturday qualifying is make-or-break for Norris. It could set him up for a disappointing Sunday - or give him a proper chance at redemption and a lifeline in this title fight that risks slipping away from him.
