Lando Norris was the standout performer in the Qatar GP sprint (Image: Getty)
proved his doubters wrong during the , leading every moment before handing over the victory to team-mate at the final corner, on the final lap.
The Brit’s ability to convert the P1 grid slot into a race win was questioned by none other than seven-time world champion . While appearing on stage in front of a bumper crowd of adoring fans, he joked with team-mate , who was starting alongside Norris on the front row for the sprint.
“You should win today… the sprint,” he told Russell. “I don’t think Lando has ever held [position] off the line, so you should be good.” His team-mate offered some defence for Norris, replying: “I don’t think he’s… has he held the lead at some places?”
Norris had no problems holding the lead on race day though. The man matched Russell’s start from P2, who went on to lose position to his rival’s team-mate, Piastri. Despite his best efforts, the driver couldn’t restore himself to second place.
The man currently second in the Drivers’ Championship standings ultimately crossed the line in P2, producing a classy moment as he handed over the race win to Piastri as payback for the Australian’s sacrifice in the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race.
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Lewis Hamilton’s tease backfired (Image: Getty)
While the facts confirm that Norris’ race starts in 2024 have cost him significant points, the driver maintains that his struggles off the line have been blown out of proportion. The 25-year-old has qualified fastest seven times this season, but only two of those were converted.
“It’s not something that affects me,” he said back in August. “I’m not going to go out [in the Dutch Grand Prix] to try and suddenly prove people wrong or something. I’m just going to crack on and do what I’ve got to do.
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So people can write what they want, they can have their own opinions. A lot of these things are true and are facts to people, but it’s more just use them to my advantage and improve on my weaknesses. Simple as that.”
Norris will have another chance to prove his critics wrong in qualifying on Saturday. were the fastest team in the sprint shootout and sprint race despite starting the latter on tyres with two laps already under their belts. Hamilton, meanwhile, finished sixth on the road at the Lusail International Circuit.