McLaren's pit decision for Norris criticized after VSC in Madrid
Formula1.com • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 15, 2026, 5:29 PM
Last updated Sep 15, 2026
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McLaren's decision to pit Lando Norris during the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period in Madrid has drawn criticism from analyst Jolyon Palmer. He stated that the choice contributed to losing a race that seemed within reach for Norris. The VSC was activated following Lance Stroll's mechanical failure, which left his car stationary for half a minute. McLaren's timing with the VSC played a significant role in the race outcome.
- •Jolyon Palmer critiques McLaren's strategy during the VSC.
- •Lando Norris was in contention for victory in Madrid.
- •The VSC resulted from Lance Stroll's car stopping on track.
- •Stroll's issue led to missed opportunities for McLaren.
"Former Renault F1 driver and F1 TV analyst Jolyon Palmer explains why McLaren pitting Norris after the VSC only "cemented" the loss of the race in Madrid.
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