Lando Norris’ Achilles’ Heel in the 2024 Formula 1 Season: Challenging Starts
In what has been an otherwise impressive 2024 Formula 1 campaign for Lando Norris, his approach to race starts has emerged as a significant weakness, costing him at least two potential race wins so far this season.
The young McLaren driver has faced a series of inauspicious choices at the first corner, including missed opportunities from pole position at the Spanish and Hungarian Grands Prix. At Barcelona, Norris’ attempt to wrong-foot Max Verstappen was thwarted by a fast-starting George Russell, while in Hungary, Oscar Piastri got the better of Norris and held the inside line.
Norris’ latest first-lap complication came at the Belgian Grand Prix, where he drifted wide on the exit of La Source, brushing the gravel and losing momentum up the Kemmel Straight, ultimately falling to seventh place.
“I’ve given away a lot of points over the last three, four races just because of stupid stuff, mistakes and bad starts – Turn 1 now,” Norris reflected after the race. “I think I just need to reset. The last two, three races I’ve just not clicked as much as I needed to and given up a lot of points, so hopefully I can come back strong.”
It’s not necessarily Norris’ car position that has been the issue, but rather the slower-than-ideal starts that have restricted his options. In Spain, Hungary, and China, the McLaren driver entered the first corner with significantly less momentum compared to the cars around him, leaving him unable to effectively defend his position.
This has forced Norris to adopt a different approach, often falling back into a phase of tyre-saving to mount a recovery later in the race. While this strategy has worked in some instances, such as in Miami, it’s an easier pursuit when leading a Grand Prix.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the team’s work with Norris to identify areas for improvement, both individually and in terms of collaboration. “For Lando, for instance, it looks like there are statistically some opportunities that tend to happen in the early stages of the race, so we need to check whether this is early stages of the race for a reason, or it’s just random,” Stella said.
Norris has demonstrated in the past that he is capable of making strong opening moves, such as his charge to the lead at the British Grand Prix last year and his surge to second at Suzuka. However, this season, he has failed to make up a single position off the line, either retaining his position or losing places.
As Norris continues his push for a maiden Formula 1 championship, addressing this starting issue will be crucial. The summer break provides a valuable opportunity for the Briton and his team to reset and find a solution, whether it’s a mental roadblock to overcome or adjustments to the car’s settings. If Norris can come back from the break and deliver a strong start at Zandvoort, the confidence and momentum could be just what he needs to get his title challenge back on track.
🔗 Source