Lando Norris’s spluttering world championship defence has been hit by a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
But the McLaren driver promised not to let the setback spoil his weekend as he attempts to narrow the 82-point gap to leader Kimi Antonelli.
Norris has retired from two races and failed to start one of the nine rounds as his Mercedes engine has been beset by unreliability. It has proved the case again going into Spa, with his car being fitted with a new battery, his fourth – one more than is permitted without incurring a sanction.
McLaren decided to take the hit at this point because the famous track in the Ardennes offers a relatively high possibility of passing opportunities. This is also the last race before a significant upgrade is introduced in Hungary next week.
Norris wants to stay at least on the fringes of the title fight in the hope McLaren manage to make significant strides as the season develops.
‘We will have to wait to see but, comparing us to some of our competitors further back in the field, we will probably have a small straight-line speed advantage,’ said Norris. ‘We should have a good chance.
‘We know it is better to take the penalty here than in Hungary or Zandvoort (home of the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23). I hope it is not the end of my weekend before it starts. I am still confident we can do well.
Lando Norris has retired from two races and failed to start one of the nine rounds this season
‘We have been unlucky losing different bits. I am on the backfoot in terms of spare parts, but that is out of my hands. That’s life. You’ve got to take it on the chin.’
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, meanwhile, refused to be drawn on his future when pressed during the official press conference.
The Dutchman crashed out at Silverstone fortnight ago with a rear-wing failure and is unsettled by Red Bull’s travails that leave him 103 points off the top.
The 28-year-old has yet to commit to his Austrian team for next season. He could explore a move elsewhere or take a year out to consider his next move. ‘There is nothing to say,’ he insisted.
