Nico Rosberg admitted he was “baffled” by the mistakes Lando Norris made while maintaining a substantial lead in his victory at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Norris showcased impressive speed during his first stint, creating a 25-second gap over title rival Max Verstappen. However, the McLaren driver clipped a barrier just before his first pit stop, narrowly avoiding significant damage. In the sweltering conditions at The Marina Bay Circuit, Norris encountered further luck when he brushed against another barrier with his right rear tire during his second stint. In the closing stages, he also ran wide while lapping a backmarker, yet ultimately finished with a victory margin of more than 20 seconds.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, 2016 world champion Rosberg remarked, “It baffled me a little bit to see him hit the wall twice. Both moments were severe—almost race-ending incidents where he was lucky not to finish.”
Rosberg pointed out, “He went miles off the track in a hairpin, which was a major out-braking error. He also hit the same wall where George Russell crashed out last year.”
He continued, “In addition to these two mistakes, he went off track again while trying to pass a Williams. That’s three significant errors, and it feels a bit odd.”
Norris’ Performance and Championship Implications
Norris’ win narrowed Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 52 points as the season approaches its final rounds, boosting hopes that the British driver can thwart Verstappen’s quest for a fourth consecutive title. McLaren also extended their Constructors’ Championship lead over Red Bull to 41 points and has displayed a clear pace advantage recently.
Rosberg added, “I can’t recall myself, Max Verstappen, or Lewis Hamilton making three major mistakes like that while comfortably leading. It’s a bit strange. I know Singapore tests concentration and is physically demanding, but Lando tends to make those small errors consistently. He needs to eliminate those mistakes if he wants to compete for the championship.”
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With just six races left in the 2024 Formula 1 season, the championship resumes with the United States Grand Prix in Austin from October 18-20, live on Sky Sports F1.
Credit: Sky Sports
