Lando Norris has admitted that the summer break will grant him a much-needed chance to “reset” amid another missed win chance in Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix.
With Max Verstappen situated down the order, Norris, who lined up fourth, was considered the favourite to triumph due to McLaren’s stronger pace in drier conditions.
However, Norris’ hopes were dealt a seismic blow on the opening lap as a wide moment at Turn 1 saw him dip a wheel into the gravel and slip three places to seventh.
The Briton has explained that his desire to avoid getting caught up in contact at the tight La Source hairpin at the start meant he was overcautious and made an error.
“Yeah, I just misjudged it, honestly,” Norris conceded. “I just didn’t want to get taken out in Turn 1, so I left the gap and just misjudged the exit a little bit.”
McLaren elected to respond to that setback with an extended opening stint, but Norris was unable to capitalise on the newer rubber as overtaking proved challenging.
Having conceded track position to Verstappen through the initial pit stops, Norris would trail the Dutchman and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the chequered flag in sixth.
“Just impossible to overtake,” he said. “The overtaking sucked today. I think there was very few overtakes actually done on track. Most of it was just in the pit stops.
“There were some overtakes, but only when you had a 10-lap tyre advantage.
“Otherwise, yeah, a bit of a tough race with the overtaking. I felt like we were quick, the car was quick. I just don’t feel like we maximised what we could have done.”
McLaren has been unable to bag more victories since Norris won in Miami, and team-mate Oscar Piastri couldn’t prevent the two Mercedes drivers from taking a 1-2.
Norris, who has rued squandering several opportunities in recent races, has asserted the shutdown comes at an ideal moment as he lost more ground to Verstappen.
“We all need it, but I think I just need it to reset,” he expanded.
“I’ve given away a lot of points over the last three or four races, just because of stupid stuff. Mistakes and bad starts. Turn 1 now.
“I don’t know why, it’s just silly things, it’s not even difficult stuff.
“It’s just Turn 1, trying to stay out of trouble, trying to make sure there’s a gap and not get hit. And then I put myself off the track. Just some stupid things.
“The pace was good, the team were doing an amazing job, so I’m happy. In a way, I feel like I just don’t want to take a break, I just want to continue because we’re in good form.
“Even today, I felt like the pace was very strong. The last 2 or 3 races, I’ve just not clicked as much as I needed to.
“I’ve given up a lot of points, so hopefully I can come back stronger.”
Nevertheless, Norris has proclaimed that McLaren remains in a positive moment as he clarified that his comments were in relation to his own showings since Miami.
Asked how he will be able to reset and rebound in the remaining 10 rounds this season, Norris responded: “Just forget about it.
“I still have another week of debriefs. I’m in the factory for half of next week.
“Just review everything and look over everything, make sure we take a break on a good note. Which I think we have, honestly.
“There’s a lot of positives, just things haven’t clicked for us. But I feel like we’ve still got what we need and what we want. So I’m happy.
“We’ve got what it takes to fight and to put up a good battle.
“I’ve just not been on it from my side. So, review my things, go away and forget about it for a bit of time, and then come back stronger.”
