Despite Keeping Ambitions in Check, Lando Norris Hailed for Keeping Senna’s Legacy Alive at McLaren

The younger generation of drivers advise how they idolize Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso as their idols. However, the two most experienced drivers on the grid idolized Ayrton Senna. There’s a reason why the Brazilian is labeled as the best of the best. He’s the idol of the idols. After an amazing Singapore GP, Lando Norris was hailed for keeping Ayrton Senna’s legacy alive, despite the fact that the Brit kept his expectations in check. How did Norris keep Senna’s legacy alive?

The first two-thirds of the Singapore GP wasn’t as interesting as the final third. VSC meant the Mercedes were on faster tires and caught up to Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz in P2 and P1 respectively, with only a handful of laps to go. Carlos Sainz gave Norris the DRS and the two drivers worked together to keep the Mercedes duo behind them. Amid all this, many question if Lando Norris could’ve passed Sainz himself.

While Norris wouldn’t have let an opportunity to win pass by, the Brit was more focused on keeping the Mercedes behind. Sainz made no obvious mistake, so Norris didn’t have much of a chance. And if Norris would’ve tried to force a chance or make it, it could’ve been a disaster for both. Earlier in the race, we saw Fernando Alonso lose position to Esteban Ocon as the Spaniard tried overtaking Perez. 

However, the former F1 driver believes Norris has the edge that Ayrton Senna did but made a sensible decision at the Singapore GP. According to the F1 Nation podcast, Pedro de la Rosa said, “Let’s be realistic. I mean, there’s a point that if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are not a racing driver anymore. I think Lando was of course worried about protecting his P2 but I’m sure he was just with the other eye thinking if Carlos has any issue whatsoever, I have DRS, he hasn’t, and it’s the last lap. He had an eye on the win”

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As de la Rosa quoted Ayrton Senna’s famous quote, he explained how Norris did have one eye set on a win but prioritized P2. However, Norris did explain why he didn’t attack Sainz.

Fighting for the win might’ve cost Lando Norris the podium.

Charles Leclerc was a sitting duck for the Mercedes when he was overtaken, as he had no DRS. Lando Norris, on the other hand, was intentionally given DRS by Sainz. Norris could’ve himself tried overtaking the Spaniard for the win but later explained in the press conferences why he didn’t do so. The major concern is the fact that he might have lost the podium while scraping for the win. 

According to FIA.com, Lando Norris during the post-race press conference said, “There was no need for me to try and attack him [Carlos Sainz]. The more I attacked him, probably the more vulnerable I would have been from both the guys behind and I wouldn’t be sitting here. We wouldn’t be on the podium if I played it differently, you know. So, it was a stressful, stressful last few laps, for sure.”

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What do you think? Could Norris have taken the chance for his first win?