Lando Norris asks the Spanish GP organizers to remove two ‘pointless’ corners for next year’s race.
Lando Norris thinks the Spanish Grand Prix organizers should remove turns 18 and 19 before next season after the first race at the new Madring circuit. Norris finished third in Madrid, with Max Verstappen coming in second and Kimi Antonelli winning the race.
Norris started on pole and led at the beginning, but a badly timed virtual safety car (VSC) cost him time, and he dropped to third. Even though his McLaren was faster at the end, he couldn’t pass Verstappen and wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts.
There were only four overtakes on the whole track after the first lap (not counting Lewis Hamilton falling back due to brake problems), which upset many fans. This was even fewer than Monaco, where there were 10 overtakes earlier this season.
Norris went a bit further, calling the fast turns 18 and 19 “useless” and saying he didn’t understand why they were designed that way.
“I think some changes are clear,” Norris said after the race. “They should get rid of 18 and 19. Just have a straight leading into a big hairpin. I don’t know how anyone looked at this and thought it was perfect. There are many chances to make the track better for racing. I’m excited to come back next year if they fix these things because the track is fun to drive.
“It could be a great circuit, but right now it’s better for qualifying than racing. If they made a straight from turn 17 to 20, with a wider entry like turn 1 or 10 in Austin, and a big hairpin, it would give everyone better opportunities to overtake and make the race more exciting. Some changes are simple, and others, like turns 5, 6, and 7, are trickier. The way you have to turn and brake kind of ruins the racing. I hope they fix it because it should be more fun for everyone.”
Talks between the Madring organizers and the FIA are planned to improve the track for next season. Possible changes include making the turn 5/6 chicane wider to help overtaking, widening turn 20, and changing the shape of turn 13.
Norris wasn’t the only one who didn’t like the track. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto said, “Driving here feels like a faster Monaco, but just as boring.”
Overall, it sounds like everyone agrees some changes could make the Spanish Grand Prix more exciting next year!