Lando Norris has described the Baku City Circuit as the worst track for McLaren this season after a frustrating Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he could only manage seventh place. The British driver started from seventh and finished in the same position, unable to make progress on a circuit where overtaking proved difficult due to DRS trains.
Norris's struggles were compounded by a slow pit stop that potentially cost him three places, and despite fresher tyres at the end, he lacked the pace advantage to challenge Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda ahead. The result leaves Norris 25 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen, who won the race from pole position.
McLaren's weekend was further marred by Oscar Piastri's crash on lap one. The Australian suffered a poor start, dropping to last, then locked up at turn five and speared into the wall, ending his 34-race scoring streak. Piastri admitted to 'silly mistakes' and 'simple lapses in judgment' after a weekend to forget.
Team principal Andrea Stella has refused to rule out Verstappen as a title contender, despite the points gap. Verstappen has closed a 94-point deficit to 69 points with seven races remaining, and his dominant win in Baku suggests he may still be in the championship battle.
