Norris claims he ‘should have won’ Spanish GP after tardy race start ‘ruined everything’

Lando Norris believes he missed a clear shot at victory in the Spanish Grand Prix after losing two places on the opening lap and then taking a different strategic approach to his rivals.

Norris started Sunday’s race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from pole position but lost out to the fast-starting Mercedes of George Russell and, in what turned out to be a crucial moment, the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

READ MORE: Verstappen just holds off Norris to win super-tight Spanish Grand Prix as Hamilton claims first podium of 2024

Norris and McLaren opted to go long in the first stint with an off-set strategy, an approach that forced the Briton to fight his way back through the field en route to an eventual P2 finish.

Asked for his reflections on the race and if he felt he could have won, Norris replied: “Not could, should have won. I got a bad start, simple as that.

“The car was incredible today, I think we were for sure the quickest, I just lost it in the beginning. So yeah, disappointed, but a lot of positives, one negative and that kind of ruined everything.

READ MORE: Verstappen pinpoints moment that ‘made my race’ after beating Norris to Spanish GP win

“I know that. I can just work on it for next time and, apart from that, a good amount of points and a big thanks to the team, because the car was amazing.”

Pushed on what happened at the start, Norris added: “I’m not sure, I need to look back and review. I don’t know what I did wrong or if I was just slightly out.

“It was only a little bit to Max that I lost, it wasn’t like he was completely alongside, it was more that George was suddenly outside and kind of had me over.

“Fair play, well done to Red Bull and Max, another job done for them, but a shame that we lost it at the same time, so a bit frustrating. We’ll work on it for next time.”

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Despite the disappointment of missing out on victory, Norris is at least Verstappen’s nearest challenger in the title race, having cleared Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for second in the standings.