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Reuters

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Reuters

Racing in Monaco is not for the faint-hearted. The narrow streets, multiple inclines, and zero margins for error mean that drivers have to be on high alert. Just a small error can make the driver either lose chunks of lap-time or even crash out. For Lando Norris, this race was no walk in the park. Despite suffering from tonsillitis, the young Briton battled it all. 

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A heavy downpour meant that the race start had to be delayed. While many criticized the way FIA handled the start, many drivers and Lando alike agreed that the stewards took the right decision. 

Norris also highlighted if he were a fan, then he would have also wanted a great show. But the Principality, and with the size of the current cars, simply doesn’t provide the opportunity that one requires to move up the grid. So to race in such atrocious conditions is a nightmare for drivers. 

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Lando Norris gives his thought on Mick Schumacher’s crash

The one incident that showcased how unforgiving Monaco can be was Mick Schumacher’s crash. His VF-22 lost it on approach to Turn 15 and then eventually split in half. This meant a hefty bill for the team, which would further affect their car development cycle.

This was the second time the German was involved in such a horrific accident in 2022. But it also showed the risks drivers take when racing on street circuits. The McLaren driver wrote, “Ultimately, it is me that is risking my neck out there.”

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“We all saw the consequences of one tiny error on Sunday. Mick Schumacher missed the apex of the right-hander at the Swimming Pool and positioned the car just a fraction offline – maybe no more than 10cm – and that was it. Game over.”

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Lando Norris wrote candidly that what happened to Mick could have happened to anyone. And the fact that every driver is millimeters from making the same mistake is really terrifying.  

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But in the end, the nature of Monaco means that you don’t have much time to think. The corners come at a driver too quick that you have to anticipate the reaction even before the corner actually arrives. Lando noted, “Everything happens so fast but you’re almost on autopilot, doing everything instinctively.” 

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“They are not nice moments to have and seeing a crash like Mick’s does shake you up. It was a relief to see him walk away.”

Despite the odds, Lando went on to finish P6 in an incident-filled race. Norris concluded that he can’t wait to go racing in Azerbaijan.  

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Written by

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Vaibhav Aatreya

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Vaibhav Aatreya is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. His ever-growing passion for the sport, combined with his willingness to learn the inside workings of Formula 1, led him to pursue his graduation in Mechanical Engineering. Having been following the world of motorsports for many years now, Vaibhav loves to pen down his thoughts, giving his take on the ongoings in the sport. Come Sunday, he can be seen cheering for McLaren as he believes the 'papaya team', sooner rather than later, will return to their glory days. He is also an ardent supporter of Kamui Kobayashi and strongly feels that the Japanese driver deserved a better car to suit his talents in F1. When not rooting for the 8-time Constructors' Champions, he is either learning about aviation or binging science fiction shows on Netflix.

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Ranvijay Singh

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