Lando Norris tells Spanish GP organisers to 'get rid' of two 'useless' corners for next season's race
Lando Norris says that Spanish Grand Prix organisers should 'get rid' of turns 18 and 19 in time for next season after the inaugural race at the new Madring circuit.
Norris finished in third place in Madrid, with Max Verstappen crossing the line in second behind race winner Kimi Antonelli.
Norris had started on pole and kept the lead in the opening laps, but an unfortunately-timed virtual safety car (VSC) period cost him valuable time and he eventually fell to third. The McLaren driver then was unable to overtake Verstappen despite having a faster car in the closing stages and made his feelings clear.
'Useless. I don't know how...' - Lando Norris criticises Spanish GP circuit design
There were just four recorded overtakes - not counting Lewis Hamilton's fall to the back of the field due to a brake failure - after lap 1 on the new circuit, which prompted criticism from fans.
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That figure meant there were even fewer overtakes than at Monaco, which had 10 earlier this season.
Norris went a step further in his criticism, describing the high-speed turns 18 and 19 as 'useless' - and stating that he didn't know what the designers were thinking.
"I think there are some obvious changes they should make," Norris said in the post-race press conference. "They should get rid of 18, 19. Useless. Just have more of a straight into a hairpin. I don't know how someone looks at this design and goes, 'Mint'.
"Yeah. I think there are a lot of opportunities, like I said yesterday. I think they can make it into a track that's good for racing. And I'm excited to come back here next year if they can make these changes, because I think that it's a track that is good fun to drive.
"It can be a great race track. For me, it's not a great race track. It's great in qualifying. But a straight line from 17 straight to 20, have a much wider entry like Austin turn 1, or turn 10 in Austin. A big hairpin. Then you create much better opportunities for everyone, and you'll be able to enjoy the race.
"There's some simple changes, and maybe some trickier ones. Like turns 5, 6, 7 - it's hard to know exactly what's the best thing, the fact that you have to turn and brake basically defeats the whole object of racing. I hope they do it, because it should be more exciting for everyone."
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Spanish GP discussions to take place with FIA
According to The Race, talks are set to be held between Circuito de Madring organisers and the FIA over how better to improve the racing spectacle in time for next season.
It is reported that possible changes set to be under consideration include a widening of the turn 5/6 chicane to bolster overtaking opportunities, another widening of the circuit at turn 20 - just past the corners that Norris was particularly critical of - and a change to profile of the left-hander at turn 13.
Norris was not the only driver critical of the circuit design post-race. Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto was perhaps most scathing when he remarked: "Driving on a track like this, it's like faster Monaco. But as boring as Monaco."
Topics: Lando Norris, Formula 1, McLaren
Ryan Smart