Norris survives late brake scare to secure McLaren 1-2 at Chinese GP
Lando Norris managed to secure second place in the Chinese Grand Prix despite facing severe brake issues in the closing stages of the race. The McLaren driver revealed he was "very lucky" to finish the race at all.
Man in orange racing suit
The brake problems began early in the race, with the team reportedly noticing issues just after the halfway point. Norris experienced a deteriorating brake pedal feel, forcing him to significantly reduce his pace in the final laps. This allowed George Russell to close the gap to just 1.3 seconds at the finish line.
"The last 10 laps, I was pretty nervous about just being able to finish the race," Norris explained. "It was noticeable how much worse it was getting every single lap and every braking zone." The issue was particularly concerning on the high-speed Chinese circuit, with Norris losing three to four seconds per lap in the closing stages.
Despite these challenges, McLaren achieved a historic one-two finish, with Oscar Piastri taking the win. The result marks McLaren's 50th one-two finish in Formula 1, a significant milestone for the team.
The performance represents a remarkable turnaround for Norris, who struggled during the Sprint race, finishing eighth. He expressed satisfaction with his improved understanding of the car and his ability to overcome earlier difficulties, though emphasized the need to investigate and prevent similar brake issues in future races.
"I'm happy considering how bad my last few days have been," Norris reflected. "I'm more satisfied to know I've got answers for my struggles and that makes me happy."