Lando Norris’ repeated failure to keep the lead when starting from pole position had become a statistical millstone around his neck by the time Formula 1 arrived in Singapore for the 18th round of the championship.
There, Norris claimed pole position for the sixth time this year, and faced the by-now expected barrage of questions over whether he would keep that advantage when the red lights went out.
Finally, he did. Norris dropped the clutch and kept a car’s length ahead of closest rival Max Verstappen, sweeping into turn one ahead, from where he duly claimed his third grand prix victory of the season.
But if McLaren thought Norris had finally grasped the key to maintaining the all-important advantage of leading at the start, those hopes were shattered in Austin.
Many times this year Norris’ starts have been undermined by a poor initial getaway. This was what allowed Verstappen to get alongside him from second on the grid in Spain and the Netherlands, and Lewis Hamilton to do likewise in the Shanghai sprint race.
However in his last three starts from pole position Norris made a much stronger initial getaway. He did so at Monza, only for team mate Oscar Piastri to mug him for the lead at the second chicane. In Singapore he held his advantage for the one and only time this year.
In Austin, however, Norris threw away arguably his hardest-won pole position of the season despite having got off the line well. What’s more, he surrendered a precious advantage to the championship leader at a time when he needs every point he can get his hands on.
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Verstappen was the clear favourite for pole position in Q3 the day before but Norris beat him to it through a combination of excellent driving and fortune. Norris’ first run in Q3 was clean while Verstappen missed the apex at turn 19, and neither driver got their second runs in due to the yellow flags caused by George Russell.
Starting from pole position offers the advantage of running in clear air, which is especially important given the sensitivity of F1’s Pirelli rubber. Moreover, front row occupants Norris and Verstappen knew the two Ferraris behind them posed a serious threat. All of which makes Norris’ course of action after getting away cleanly all the more baffling.
In the sprint race at the same track last year Verstappen showed precisely how to retain the advantage of a half-decent start from pole position. He immediately moved across to the inside, preventing Charles Leclerc from taking the inside line, even though it compromised his own run through the corner.
Norris appeared not to have taken note. Having shown Verstappen a clean pair of heels off the line, he gradually moved left towards the inside, but far too slowly to prevent Verstappen from doing the same.
Verstappen was always going to seize the opportunity not only to pass Norris but also force him wide and leave him vulnerable to the Ferraris. Which is exactly what happened.
An hour later, as Norris spent lap after lap trying to prise third place from Verstappen’s fingers, he must have regretted surrendering the place so cheaply. McLaren may have been furious at the stewards’ decision to deprive him of third place, but they should be just as unimpressed at the driving which cost them the position in the first place.
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How Norris lost the lead from pole six times this year
China sprint race
Hamilton got away better from second place, and Norris’ attempt to hold on around the outside backfired badly, leaving him seventh.
Hungarian Grand Prix
Norris lost the lead to Piastri, and Verstappen tactically used the run-off to get ahead of his championship rival, though Red Bull later advised him to relinquish the place.
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Italian Grand Prix
Norris appeared to have got the job done as he accelerated out of the Rettifilo ahead of his team mate. Then Piastri grabbed the lead at the Roggia chicane, and Leclerc nabbed second off him for good measure.
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2024 United States Grand Prix
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