Lando Norris has called on Formula One to reconsider what he described as a “stupid rule” after the timing of a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period denied him victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.
The race saw Kimi Antonelli move further ahead in the championship after capitalising on an opening created when Lance Stroll crashed his Aston Martin into the wall. Stroll’s accident triggered a Virtual Safety Car period, which Antonelli used to make a free pit-stop, helping him secure his eighth win in 14 races this season.
Norris, the current world champion, was leading comfortably when the VSC was deployed. However, he had already passed the pit-lane entry just moments earlier, which meant he could not pit under the VSC conditions. On the following lap, he did stop, but a slow front-right tyre change added to his time loss.
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Before Stroll’s crash, Norris was seven seconds ahead of Antonelli but emerged from the pits 13 seconds behind the Italian. Despite demonstrating strong pace in his McLaren and closing the gap considerably, Norris was unable to overtake due to the circuit’s limited passing opportunities. He finished third, now 106 points behind in the championship standings, with his hopes of defending the title significantly diminished.
Reflecting on the race, Norris said, “We didn’t do anything that made us lose the race. We were just insanely unlucky today. I was the only one on the whole grid who didn’t get a chance to do a pit-stop. It has happened in races before, and I have gained from it in the past, but I have lost a win today and that is frustrating. I felt like I deserved more.”
He emphasised that the situation was beyond his control, noting, “I got pole, I led the race, and to lose it for nothing in my control is not how a race should be won.”
Regarding potential changes to prevent similar scenarios, Norris suggested, “It has been brought up many times over the years by different drivers. There are things that can be changed to make it more simple and more fair. We could be covered for at least one lap after the VSC is deployed, allowing all drivers the opportunity to pit, or the pit-entry could be blocked. This needs to be part of a wider discussion, and as a group of drivers, I think it is something we would all want.”
Norris conceded the incident was not anyone’s fault within the team but expressed hope that the rule would be reconsidered to avoid future occurrences. In a television interview, he described the current rule as “stupid.”
Antonelli, who had recently won the Monza Grand Prix after a remarkable comeback from 19th position, now leads the championship by 81 points following George Russell’s fifth-place finish for Mercedes. Antonelli remains focused, stating, “It is great, but we have to keep pushing, keep delivering and trying to do the best job I can. Of course, it is a big lead, but you never know what can happen so I have to be ready for everything.”