Norris is first happy with the team’s result
Finishing ninth behind his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris indicated that he was happy with the team's result above all, even though he definitely could have overtaken the Australian towards the end of the race.
Eighth and ninth, McLaren achieved its second double points finish in the streets of Baku, following Melbourne. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix also marked the second time this season that Daniel Ricciardo finished ahead of Lando Norris on track, with the first being in Bahrain during the opening race of the year.
Taking advantage of a virtual safety car, the Australian was able to come out ahead of his young teammate, even though he had stopped a dozen laps earlier. Lando Norris said he was primarily satisfied with the team’s result. « I have a team spirit, so I accepted the fact that I couldn’t overtake at the end. Daniel helped me in the middle, it was a lap where he wasn’t allowed to pass me. »
The young British person did not find this instruction incorrect and understands it. « If the return favor is to not surpass it at all in the last three laps, I suppose I have to accept it. I think it was fair, I don’t think what we did was wrong. It’s just that when you’re racing, you always want to push, you always want to find what the limit is. But I could have done it… »
Norris states that he could have taken the position if he had wanted to. « I was inside in the first corner, I let him through and I let him pass. I could have finished eighth if I was more rebellious, but I accept what we did as a team. I think what we did today was strong. Our goal was to be in the points with both cars, and that’s exactly what we did, so I’m happy about it. »
McLaren scored six points in Baku. Alpine, who is behind the Woking team in the constructors’ standings in fifth place, took seven points and was unable to benefit from the few points scored by the orange cars.
