Motorsport photoAlex HarringtonSun, November 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM UTC·6 min readLando Norris says he will take what happened during his disastrous Qatar Grand Prix "on the chin" after a costly choice not to pit under the safety car ruined his race.
The McLaren driver slipped back in the title fight after a safety car was called at the Losail circuit following a clash between Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg. While Max Verstappen - and every other driver - pitted for fresh tyres, both Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri stayed out.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We could have done many things differently but we didn’t and we thought we did what was correct, so nothing wrong,” Norris said of the strategy. “t wasn’t... I still had a long race ahead of me so I had to focus and do my best,” he added.
On whether McLaren should have pitted on lap 7, the Briton admitted that both he and Piastri should have, even if that meant him losing time in a close double stack.
“Probably yes, but both of us should have done,” he said. “I would have been had over either way because we would have double stacked and potentially I would have lost time. A bit of time - I probably wouldn’t have lost a position I don’t think.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"But yeah, it’s something we’ll go and talk about and review. You know, I also have to have faith that the team are making the right call and that’s what I had to do.” Asked if he had yet been given more detail from the pitwall, he replied: “No, I just got out of the car.”
This sees the Briton leading the championship by only 12 points, with both Verstappen and Piastri still in mathematical contention as they head into the final round of the season at Abu Dhabi.
For the championship leader, nothing changes.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It’s the same as every weekend. I try and beat them, they try and beat me. It’s nothing different. So I just want to go to bed,” he said. “Nothing I can do about it.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren"It’s obviously not our greatest day, not our greatest weekend. But I’ve had... I don’t know if anyone saw the run of results I had before that. It was great. I’ve put myself in this position. I’m still happy.
"It wasn’t our finest day, it wasn’t my finest weekend in terms of driving and putting things together. But that’s life. Everyone has bad weekends. I take it on the chin, we all take it on the chin, and we’ll see what we can do next weekend.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNorris finished fourth after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli made a mistake, opening the track for the papaya-coloured car.
“He made a mistake. Thank you, Kimi," Norris ended.
Photos from Qatar GP - Race
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooled
The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooledPeter Fox / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
David Beckham
David BeckhamClive Mason / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariNoushad Thekkayil / NurPhoto via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFlavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Jessica Alba
Jessica AlbaAndrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Maya Jama
Maya JamaKym Illman / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Williams mechanics during pit stop practice
Williams mechanics during pit stop practicePeter Fox / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenJayce Illman / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineClive Mason / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamMark Thompson / Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crash
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crashRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Drivers pit during the safety car
Drivers pit during the safety carAltaf Qadri / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
David Beckham
David BeckhamMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMark Thompson / Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMahmud Hams / AFP via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA Williams team member
A Williams team memberPeter Fox / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesClive Mason / Getty Images
Andrea Stella, McLaren
Andrea Stella, McLarenMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images
To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
AdvertisementAdvertisement