Lando Norris Regrets Mistakes at Bahrain GP as McLaren Misses Out on Victory
Lando Norris has expressed deep regret over a series of mistakes he made during the 2025 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, which ultimately cost McLaren the prestigious victory at the International Bahrain Circuit.
The McLaren driver found himself under investigation after he was penalized with a five-second penalty at the start of the race for starting outside his designated grid position. The mistake was quickly noticed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, and it was just the beginning of a challenging race for Norris.
This incident effectively dashed any hopes of a win at the Bahrain GP, as Norris found himself battling against Ferrari and later, George Russell. Norris, while acknowledging his errors, admitted that he didn’t realize just how far he had strayed from his starting position.
“I didn’t think I had gone that far,” Norris admitted. “I guess there’s nothing more to it. It was a tough race. Of course, I made too many mistakes when overtaking, not being in the right position. It was a chaotic race for me, and it was disappointing not to bring home a 1-2 for McLaren, as that would have been amazing at home. So, it was a tough race, but there were still some positives.”
Norris’s first mistake came when he started the race outside his grid position, which led to a request for him to give the position back to Lewis Hamilton. Norris managed to overtake the seven-time world champion on the outside at Turn 4, but he went beyond the white line with all four wheels.
When asked if he knew he had crossed the white line, Norris bluntly replied, “No, I was just informed about it.”
However, that wasn’t the last of Norris’s troubles. In the closing stages of the race, Norris got caught up in a tight battle at Turn 1 as he tried to pass George Russell for second place. His series of missteps ultimately saw him finish the race in third place, unable to challenge for the win.
Despite the disappointment of not securing a top-two finish, Norris praised the impressive performance of George Russell and his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.
“He did really well,” Norris said of Russell. “I think I could have caught him. I guess he was probably holding back a little for the end, and he did really well. So, he did great. Oscar did well, too. Congratulations to Oscar and the whole McLaren team, and I’ll try to improve for next weekend.”
The Bahrain GP was meant to be a crucial race for McLaren, and Norris was hopeful of securing a solid result in front of his home fans. However, his errors throughout the race cost him a chance at victory and showed the unpredictable nature of Formula 1.
Despite the mistakes, Norris remains determined to bounce back in future races and continue pushing for improvements. He recognizes that while setbacks like these can be tough, they are part of the journey in a sport as demanding and competitive as Formula 1.
The 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix saw plenty of drama and on-track battles, and Norris’s experience serves as a reminder of the fine margins that separate success from failure in Formula 1. For McLaren, the hope remains that they can learn from these mistakes and continue building on their strong performances.
Looking ahead to the next race, Norris remains optimistic. “We’ve got to keep working hard,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement, and I’m looking forward to the next weekend. We’ll keep pushing and do better.”
As the Formula 1 season progresses, fans will be eagerly watching to see how Norris and McLaren can recover from this setback and make their mark in the championship race. With Norris’s talent and the potential of McLaren’s car, the team remains a formidable force in the sport — and fans are hopeful that they’ll soon see a more consistent and error-free performance in upcoming races.