Lando Norris fumes at F1 chiefs after being made to race in 'dangerous' Qatar GP

09 October 2023 , 11:04

446     0

Lando Norris fumes at F1 chiefs after being made to race in 'dangerous' Qatar GP

McLaren's Lando Norris was scathing about being made to race in "dangerous" conditions in Qatar after a number of F1 drivers needed medical attention afterwards.

On paper, it appeared another positive day for Norris and his team, with the British driver third behind teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, who had already secured a third straight title win before he took the chequered flag on Sunday. However, the race was tainted by searing heat, with Williams driver Logan Sergeant forced to retire with heatstroke and Esteban Ocon vomiting whilst driving.

Furthermore, following Saturday's sprint race the FIA imposed a maximum stint length of 18 laps for new tyres for all drivers, meaning a minimum of three pit stops. And Norris argued that organisers had gone too far with their demands of the drivers

“I think today we probably found the limit (of what was expected)," he told . "I think it's sad we had to find it this way. It's never a nice situation to be in, some people ending up in the medical centre or passing out, and things like that. So, a pretty dangerous thing to have going on."

And the 23-year-old also said there was little that anyone competing could have done to prepare for the seating temperatures: "It's not a point where you can just go, the drivers need to train more or do any of that. We're in a closed car that gets extremely hot in a very physical race. And it's frustrating.

Mick Schumacher free to race for McLaren in 2023 after Mercedes deal reached

“I guess on TV, it probably doesn't look very physical at all, but clearly, when you have people who end up retiring or in such a bad state, it's too much, you know, for the speeds we're doing. It is too dangerous."

Lando Norris was unhappy about the conditions of the Qatar Grand Prix (Hasan Bratic/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should the Qatar Grand Prix have gone ahead? Comment below.

The issue should be alleviated when F1 next visits Qatar, with the 2024 race at the Lusail International Circuit not taking place until December 1. It will mean cooler conditions for drivers, although Norris implied that didn't compensate for what happened this time around.

“I know that this race next year is later on in the season, and it will be a lot cooler a few months later, but it's something that needs to be thought of," he continued. "And I'm sure we'll speak about it because it shouldn't have happened in the first place.”

Norris currently lies seventh in the standings, but his latest top-three placing means there is just nine points between him and Carlos Sainz Jnr. McLaren are also now closing in on fourth place in the constructors' race, just 11 points off Aston Martin.

Fraser Watson