McLaren ‘poor management’ has cost Lando Norris ‘ridiculous’ points loss

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Lando Norris is taking a title challenge to Max Verstappen in the final six races of the Formula 1 season, after winning the Singapore Grand Prix by a commanding margin.

The McLaren driver crossed the line at the Marina Bay Street Circuit a full 20 seconds ahead of Verstappen, and it could have been larger had he not backed off towards the end.

It was the first time Lando Norris had led on the opening lap of a race from pole and led every lap having built up a 25-second lead before his first pit stop.

Former F1 driver and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg believes his speed in Singapore shows that he ‘has a shot’ at taking the title away from the Dutchman, but there are questions over whether the Briton has made too many mistakes throughout the season.

Peter Windsor has outlined why he thinks McLaren’s ‘poor management’ might have cost him the title when speaking on the Cameron Cc podcast.

Peter Windsor blames McLaren ‘poor management’ on Lando Norris title loss

Despite nearly taking the maximum points in Singapore, Norris missed out on a potential victory at the previous round in Baku.

An error in timing from his McLaren team during the first part of qualifying put him at the back of the grid, meaning Norris had to recover through the field.

Windsor believes this was a key moment for Norris, as it is likely that he would have been within 50 points of Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship heading into the mini-break before Austin.

“The points Lando gave away and lost are ridiculous. He potentially lost a win in Baku, when you look at his pace in Singapore you think ‘Why didn’t he win Baku?'” said Windsor.

“Then you think ‘Oh yeah, he got that yellow’ well he got the yellow because of poor management by the team. Had he got through to Q2, he would have been top three in qualifying and won the race.”

Lando Norris lost crucial points throughout 2024 F1 season

Despite Norris being confident overall about his performances this year, there have still been a few occasions where he has lost points to Verstappen.

Remarkably, the 52-point deficit Norris currently faces against Verstappen was exactly the same at this year’s Miami Grand Prix when the McLaren driver achieved his first race win.

Spain, Hungary and Austria are the stand-out races where Norris should have won midway through the season.

Norris blamed a poor start in both Hungary and Spain that would have enabled him to score seven points more than Verstappen, while the Briton retired from the Austrian GP following a collision with Verstappen in the final laps.