Lando Norris has claimed that Max Verstappen's victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix was down to luck rather than skill.
The McLaren driver, who started on pole, finished sixth in a chaotic race at Interlagos.
Norris told Sky Sports, "They got lucky on a rule that no one agrees with.
"Probably them they agreed with it but every driver has disagreed with it in the past."
He added, "It's not talent, it's just luck," referring to Verstappen's climb from 17th to 1st place.
The race at Interlagos was marked by wet conditions and a pivotal red flag incident.
Lando Norris insisted Max Verstappen's win was down to luck, not talent
Reuters
Verstappen, starting from 17th, benefited from a free pit stop during the red flag period after Franco Colapinto crashed his Williams.
This decision proved crucial, as Norris had already pitted, dropping him down the order.
The McLaren driver struggled in the wet conditions, making mistakes that cost him positions.
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Norris explained, "All about position loss. We were just under the red flag with the free pit stop for the others, so unfortunate, nothing more."
Despite acknowledging Verstappen's driving, Norris maintained that luck played a significant role in the outcome.
The red flag rule that benefited Verstappen has been a point of contention among drivers.
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Norris expressed his frustration, saying, "Today it benefitted them, it could have benefitted us if we just stayed out, but that's a stupid thing to think of."
The McLaren driver argued that the race shouldn't have been red-flagged at all. He stated, "The race shouldn't have been red flagged. That's life sometimes."
This incident highlights the ongoing debate about the fairness of certain F1 regulations and their impact on race outcomes.
The Brazilian Grand Prix result has dealt a significant blow to Norris's championship hopes.
Max Verstappen's win might be enough to hold Lando Norris off
Reuters
With Verstappen's victory, the gap between the two drivers in the standings has widened to 62 points.
Only three grand prix remain in the season, with a total of 86 points available. This means Verstappen could secure his fourth consecutive title at the next race in Las Vegas.
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Max Verstappen climbed from 17th to 1st in an incredible victory
Reuters
Norris, reflecting on his performance, said, "I've had a lot of good races, it was about time that something didn't go right."
The British driver's disappointment was palpable as he faced the reality of his fading title aspirations.
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