Lando Norris 'devastated' as late decision costs him first F1 race win

Lando Norris has spoken of his heartbreak at narrowly missing out on his first ever F1 win at the Russian Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver, who took his maiden pole position on Saturday, was leading with five laps to go before the rain came in and derailed his quest for glory as Lewis Hamilton secured his 100th F1 race victory.

With four laps to go, Hamilton opted to change tyres with the rain getting heavier, leaving Norris out in front on his slick tyres.

The seven-time champion eventually caught Norris, who slipped and skidded around the track desperately trying to hold on, as the McLaren dropped down to seventh place at the end.

While Hamilton was told to come in and change tyres by his Mercedes team, Norris admits it was his decision to stay out thinking the rain wasn’t bad enough to warrant the change.

‘I don’t know where to start. I’m unhappy, devastated in a way,’ Norris said.

‘We made a call to stay out and we stand by that. It was the wrong one at the end of the day but I made the decision just as much as the team. It was more that they thought I should box and I decided to stay out.

‘It was my decision, I thought it was the way to go.

‘I don’t think it changes too much. I had the confidence beforehand that I was capable of doing it (leading a race) and I’ve felt capable of doing that for a while. So I don’t think that’s really changed. It’s just a bit of heartbreak.

‘I felt like I did everything I could, even when it got a bit tricky at the end. I made a couple of mistakes but still kept Lewis behind and managed to pull away a little bit.

‘A bit of luck like the laps I was out before Lewis boxed was perfectly fine for the tyres I was on and I got told the rain was going to stay the same amount.

‘Had it stayed the same amount we had the right decision, but it obviously got a lot wetter than we as a team expected.

‘When it’s only two laps to go, when there are 20 to go you’re maybe not as aggressive with decisions. We did what we thought was right, which I’m happy with.

‘It was wrong at the end of the day but everything until then the guys did an excellent job. I’m happy with everything apart from that one decision which we’ll review and try not to make again.’

Max Verstappen finished second while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took third meaning Hamilton is two points clear of the Red Bull driver in the overall standings with seven races to go.

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