Right calls, unlucky timing: Norris has 'no regrets' over Sao Paulo GP

Lando Norris had no regrets at the end Sunday’s eventful Sao Paulo Grand Prix, admitting his race was one marked by a stroke of bad luck, leaving him holding a sixth-place finish that did little to boost his F1 title chances.

Starting the race with a promising pole position and a significant advantage over title rival Max Verstappen, who began back in 17th, Norris and McLaren looked poised to make a strong move in the championship fight.

But a cascade of unfortunate circumstances robbed Norris of a better result, while Verstappen staged a phenomenal comeback to win his first race since June.

Norris’s race began with a bizarre twist when he was cited for a starting infringement after pulling off the line despite an aborted start, an incident that had yet to be investigated by stewards.

Then, once the race finally got underway, Norris lost the lead to George Russell and soon after decided to pit for fresh intermediate tyres.

The decision to pit should have played to his advantage, but it came just as a virtual safety car period ended and moments before a red flag was thrown, forcing him to lose critical positions.

• Read also: Verstappen sums up ‘rollercoaster’ Sao Paulo GP: ‘Unbelievable!’

The pause allowed Verstappen and Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly a free tyre change, as authorized by the regulations, handing the trio a significant advantage when the race resumed.

“It was the right time to box…it was the right thing,” commented Norris, reflecting on the unfortunate timing. “So no regrets, just unlucky.

“It's a silly rule that no one agrees with, but you'll always agree with it when it benefits you, you know. So, every driver has said they don’t agree with it and want it changed.

“So it's just unfortunate, but it's the rule. You win some, you lose some it benefitted them today. So, well done to them.”

Asked about the aborted start, Norris replied: “I’m not sure (what happened), I need to go speak with the team.”

Despite the challenges, Norris attempted to stay focused and acknowledged that Verstappen's pace was in a league of its own under the wet conditions of the Interlagos circuit.

He admitted that, even without his setbacks, Verstappen's speed would have likely eclipsed his own.

“I did all I could today. That's all. Max won the race. Good on him well done but it doesn't change anything for me,” he added.

“Max was easily quicker than us and I think if he went from the front he probably would have lapped us. The pace was good, I think similar to George but the Red Bull was very fast today.

“It's been an up-and-down weekend, for sure. Not a lot more I could do. I'm sure George probably feels like he won the race today, he deserved it more than anyone else.

“I probably finished third realistically, so it's tough. Max probably would have come through anyway and probably beaten us, but, yeah, just unlucky for us. Nothing more than that.”

Norris took responsibility for a few errors that ultimately cost him additional positions, owning up to his own part in a difficult race.

“I made a couple of mistakes, which I own up to, and cost me a couple of positions in the end but that’s it,” he concluded.

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