Lando Norris has revealed he is currently coping with back pain, which prevented him from participating in a recent high-profile golfing event. The Formula One driver attended Wednesday’s PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth Golf Club, a tournament he usually enjoys playing. However, this time he chose not to bring his clubs due to his discomfort.
Speaking with five-time major winner and former world number one Brooks Koepka, Norris said, “I’m not playing, I’ve got a bad back, I’m getting old.” When fellow golfer Eugenio Chacarra asked if his back was the reason he was not competing, Norris confirmed with a nod.
This appearance came shortly after Norris finished third at the Spanish Grand Prix. Despite starting from pole position and showing the fastest pace throughout the race, he was unable to convert his performance into victory. Even race winner Kimi Antonelli acknowledged that Norris deserved the win.
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Norris’s race was compromised by the timing of a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period triggered when Lance Stroll stopped on the track due to brake failure. The VSC was activated just after Norris had passed the pit lane entrance, which allowed his rivals to make a cost-effective pit stop. Unfortunately, the VSC ended before Norris could return to the pits, putting him at a disadvantage.
After the race, Norris described the situation as “unfair,” explaining that he was the only driver denied the chance to pit under reduced speed conditions. He called for changes to the regulations to prevent leading drivers from being disadvantaged in similar circumstances.
He stated, “A race should be won by the guy who can put in the best performance. Maybe you take a risk by running long in a stint and maybe you get a Safety Car and things can help because you know that’s one of the big factors. But for everyone to get a VSC pit stop and for me to not, it’s just unfair.
“We have spoken about it in the past in drivers' briefings saying they [race control] should leave it out for at least a lap, so it’s equal for everyone. I was the only one that lost out and I lost out on about 20 seconds of race time - that’s not how it should be.”
Now, attention turns to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where McLaren aims to put behind them a difficult race last year in Baku. Then, Oscar Piastri’s championship hopes were derailed by incidents in practice and the race, while Norris endured a challenging qualifying session and finished seventh, over 30 seconds behind race winner Max Verstappen.
The team will be eager for improved performances on Baku’s street circuit as they look to rebound from last season’s setbacks and continue Norris’s strong form in the current campaign.