Lando Norris faced a frustrating Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, where slow pitstops once again hampered his race results. The British driver, starting from P7 after a difficult qualifying session, managed only six points, hindered notably by another sluggish stop from the McLaren crew. Norris’s growing irritation over his team’s recurring pitstop issues has now surfaced openly, highlighting ongoing challenges within McLaren’s pit operations.
Repeated Pitstop Delays Undermine Norris’s Race Prospects
At the Italian Grand Prix prior to Azerbaijan, Norris experienced a pitstop nearly two seconds slower than his teammate Oscar Piastri, allowing the Australian to overtake him during the race. Although Piastri was instructed by McLaren to return the position, the incident exposed a widening gap in the efficiency of stops between McLaren’s two garages. The Azerbaijan GP marked a second consecutive event where Norris lost time during a pitstop, with his front right tire nearly getting stuck, further costing him critical seconds.
In Baku, this delay meant Norris rejoined the track behind Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull and was unable to reclaim the position before the race ended. Considering Piastri retired from the event, a quicker service could have earned Norris a significantly better points haul on a day when McLaren’s overall race outcome was mixed.
Frustrated by the pattern, Norris voiced his displeasure post-race, suggesting the slow pitstops were no longer just unfortunate coincidences but recurring issues that disproportionately affected his side of the team. The 25-year-old Briton indicated that while Piastri’s garage functioned more smoothly, his pit crew’s problems remain unresolved.
Honestly, twice in two races doesn’t feel like bad luck anymore. It’s frustrating when it’s always my side having the issues, while the other garage seems to run a bit smoother.
Lando Norris said post-race
Norris Highlights McLaren’s Car Handling Challenges Amid Performance
Despite McLaren fielding what is considered one of the quickest cars this season, Norris admitted the vehicle remains difficult to master. Both he and Piastri have made errors during races, underlining the car’s fine balance between speed and drivability. These challenges increase pressure on the drivers, especially with seven races still left in the season where consistency will be crucial.
Following another demanding weekend, Norris reflected on the situation, acknowledging the team’s speed but also the demanding nature of the car on certain circuits such as Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the mistakes made by both McLaren drivers proved how unforgiving the car can be, making it harder to extract its full potential during critical race moments.
I think the mistakes Oscar’s made and I’ve made just prove it’s not an easy car to drive still, it can be unbelievably fast at times, but places like here and other tracks, it can still bite you..
Lando Norris added
Impact of Slow Pitstops and Driver Errors on Season Prospects
As Max Verstappen narrows the gap with McLaren’s drivers by securing consecutive victories, McLaren faces mounting pressure to capitalize on its machinery’s speed. At Baku, Piastri’s crashes and Norris’s pitstop woes contributed to a lackluster team performance, undermining their championship challenge. The inconsistency reflects not only the technical difficulties but also the operational setbacks experienced during pitstops.
Lando Norris now needs to recover mentally and on-track at the next race in Singapore. After the disappointing Azerbaijan outing, he will be eager to convert better pit strategies into improved race results, particularly since his teammate could not capitalize due to retirements. The race team must address these problematic pitstops swiftly to avoid further loss of valuable points.
Looking Ahead to McLaren’s Response and Norris’s Race Strategy
The recurrence of slow pitstops for Norris signals deeper issues within McLaren’s pit crew procedures, raising questions about how this will be resolved before the season’s climax. Norris’s rare public criticism reveals his frustration and may push the team to prioritize efficiency improvements urgently. How McLaren handles this internally will influence not only Norris’s results but the team’s broader competitive edge in the championship battle.
With bigger stakes looming, Norris’s ability to rebound from these setbacks will be tested at upcoming events. Success will depend heavily on teamwork, quicker pitstops, and minimizing errors given the already fine margins in Formula 1 racing.
https://twitter.com/Mikk_MV33/status/1969748677867794925
Norris: Obviously a few less mistakes than we probably made this weekend, but I think the mistakes Oscar's made and I've made just prove it's not an easy car to drive still, it can be unbelievably fast at times, but places like here and other tracks, it can still bite you if…
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) September 21, 2025
