Lando Norris has reflected on a thrilling climax to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix that saw him get within a second of race winner Max Verstappen at the chequered flag.
Verstappen maintained his pole position advantage over Norris at the start and gradually pulled away over the opening stint, with victory appearing to be a formality.
However, Norris and McLaren ramped up their pace after switching from hard to medium tyres to reel Verstappen’s Red Bull back in and pile the pressure on in the closing laps.
But despite Norris’s best efforts, the Miami Grand Prix winner could not quite do the double – ultimately crossing the line just 0.725s behind Verstappen.
Asked for his reaction after jumping out of the car, Norris said: “It hurts me to say but one or two more laps and I think I would have had him. It’s tough… a shame.
“I fought hard right until the very last lap, but I just lost out a little bit too much to Max in the beginning. He was much better in the first stint and obviously in the second stint we were stronger
“It was a tough first half and a much better second half. One or two more laps would have been beautiful, but just not today.”
Norris was then asked if he believed he could continue to fight with Verstappen at Imola after his maiden win came on the very different Miami International Autodrome.
Norris gave it his all but could not quite catch Verstappen before the finish
“All weekend, yes,” he said. “I think we are at a point now where we can happily say we are in a position with Ferrari and Red Bull.
“It’s what we have to get used to, but the team are doing a good job. I think we’re all doing a very good job, so it’s business as usual. It’s focusing on doing the same things, it’s just we’re fighting for first or second now.
“It’s still a surprise to say it’s frustrating not to win, but after last weekend and the improvements we made it’s what we should start to expect.”
Norris’s team mate, Oscar Piastri, came home between Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in fourth position, having lost his front-row start due to a grid penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in qualifying.
