Lando Norris has revealed that he was “lucky” to finish Chinese Grand Prix after a “nightmare” brake issue on second place after winner Oscar Piastri.
Norris was only three seconds Adrift of Piastri and potentially lost a chance to put his McLaren team under pressure when his brake pedal went “long”, so his car was not slowing properly.
He spent the line only 1.3 seconds before Mercedes’s George Russell and thinks he would have retired if the race were a few laps longer.
“Four, five, last six laps were terrible,” Norris said Sky Sports F1.
“I don’t advise it! Likes how to go around a brake -free roundabout. It wasn’t good. I don’t think we knew exactly what was or what was happening.
“We were lucky to finish the race. George was only a second after the end. It is the worst driver’s nightmare, our brakes fail. Its’e’s the worst feeling when you crush the brakes and nothing happens and your foot goes to the floor.
“I had enough to finish, but one or two more laps and I don’t think I would have.”
Stella: Brake issolation is not acceptable
Shanghai’s international district has one of the largest areas of braking in the calendar at the bottom of the long straight back, where a complete brake failure can have major consequences.
McLaren team director Andrea Stella did not maintain the issue, which could have led to a major Norris accident.
“I’m happy with one-two. We’ve been tense on the wall of the pit, and I’m sure the whole team and fans because we had a matter in Lando’s car with the brake pedal we needed to manage during the last 20 laps,” Stella said.
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Sky F1 Ted Kravitz reflects on all big points of talks from Chinese Grand Prix
“Lando and the team did a very good job to be in the loop on how to adapt the style of running to this kind of problem, which then deteriorated and deteriorated through the race and put all the result in danger – which is undoubtedly not acceptable in terms of credibility.
“We need to do better and this will be one of the points we will definitely renew for the whole team that have worked at a very high level, but we cannot have issues that put these results at risk.”
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Home points from the Chinese Grand Prix 2025 from the international Shanghai District
Norris appreciates the ‘amazing team’ for building the best car
Norris still runs the F1 driver championship with eight points over Max Verstappen, who ended up in fourth place on Sunday.
McLaren underlined why they are the favorites to protect the title of their constructors from last year with an early 25 -point lead to Mercedes. Red Bull are 42 points Adrift of McLaren and Ferrari already 61 points after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified.
Norris added: “The team is doing an amazing job to keep the car as strong as it was. It is another year of the same regulations and becomes harder and harder to make the car faster.
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Norris, Russell and Lance Salc had a three-point battle for position from 16-18 Chinese GP turnover
“For the team to have done such a job during the winter is a loan for them that they have given us a car like them. A big thank you to everyone in MTC because it is not easy. When you hear them talking and describing how difficult it is, you owe them a lot when you have a car and it is running.
“Even though we are always complaining, we are made to do it! So the whole loan for the team because we believe we have the best car, this is a fact. We know it is complicated to drive, and definitely more difficult than the previous season, but as long as we can get around it and improve it as our other step, we will be more secure.”
Formula 1 goes to the iconic Suzuka circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix on April 4-6, Live at Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – without contract, cancel at any time
