Norris backs Masi, has ‘confidence’ in F1 improvement

Henry Valantine
Lando Norris in a pre-launch photoshoot. February 2022.

Lando Norris smiles in a pre-launch photoshoot with McLaren. February 2022.

Lando Norris has become the latest driver to throw his support behind under-fire race director Michael Masi, but adding drivers simply want “consistency” this season.

Masi’s place as race director is currently under scrutiny after the decisions made under Safety Car conditions in the closing stages in Abu Dhabi, which ultimately gave Max Verstappen the opportunity to pass Lewis Hamilton on the final lap and take his maiden title.

The FIA are conducting their internal investigation into what happened and their provisional findings are due to be released in the coming days, before the results are fully presented to the World Motor Sport Council on Friday March 18 in the lead-up to the first race of the season in Bahrain.

Sebastian Vettel looked at the “bigger picture” when lending his support to the Australian, and McLaren driver Norris did the same when discussing Masi’s tenure as race director as a whole.

And also like Vettel, Norris pointed out drivers want to have an agreed set of rules going into each race weekend – with inconsistency a primary cause of people’s grievances in the sport.

Lando Norris takes the knee. Abu Dhabi December 2021.
Lando Norris kneels in the pre-race ceremony at the final race. Abu Dhabi December 2021.

“It’s still a tough one to answer but I think the obvious thing we all want is consistency,” Norris told reporters when asked about the decisions made last season, quoted by The Race.

“When something is inconsistent like that weekend is when people get annoyed and frustrated.

“I think it’s still good we have different stewards for different weekends because you don’t want bias going in with anyone. So I think a lot, like 95% or 99%, of things are good. We just want that consistency.

“You see us make mistakes as drivers. It’s easy for people to see that and it’s the same with them, right? It’s human to make mistakes.

“And if that was just something that happened in such a quick time then that’s the way it is.

“I support Michael and I think a lot of other things he did were great last season, or the past few seasons we’ve been working with him.

“A lot of things are good. It’s just ironing out these small things which can have a big impact.

 

“We have confidence that things are going in a good direction. And they are realising areas where they can improve or just make fewer mistakes or whatever. From that side, I have confidence.”

Norris heads onto the grid this season safe in the knowledge his place in Formula 1 is secured until the end of 2025 at the earliest, having signed a new four-year contract with McLaren that is reported to have put him among the top three earners in the sport.

 

New contract puts Norris in top three of F1 wages

Lando Norris' new contract has elevated him into the top three of F1 wages.