Norris rues missed opportunity in Belgium: "The pace was good enough for a podium or win"

The reigning world champion started P13 after being handed a 10-place grid penalty before qualifying third for the Belgian Grand Prix. He showed excellent pace during the race and looked like he could have challenged for a podium finish.

However, fate worked against him, as his strategy meant he could not take advantage of pitting behind the virtual safety car, and when he did come in to the pits, a slow stop lost him even more time.

Speaking to the media, including GPblog after the race, he said: "Honestly, I think the pace was good enough for easily a podium today. Of course, made tougher by the fact I had to start P13. The VSCs were also just badly timed for us. They perfectly benefited the hard runners, and were a bit too early for me. But that's something we'll review, see if we could have boxed on the VSCs, I mean I lost 10 seconds because of that, and I lost another five or six in the pit stop.

"So you know, it's 16 seconds that we add on to my race time. It just makes my life incredibly tough and the fact I started P13, I don't think we could have made our race any more difficult today. I think the pace was good enough for a podium or even to win. So it's a shame."

Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri also looked in strong contention for a podium before losing ground after contact with Charles Leclerc, while trying to pass the Monegasque driver for third.

The Ferrari driver damaged Piastri's front wing when defending at the end of the Kemmel Straight, but went unpunished on his way to a P2 finish, with the Australian crossing the line in 5th. Speaking after the race, Piastri was puzzled as to why Leclerc went unpunished.

The stewards ruled no further action on the incident, explaining that since Piastri's front axle was not ahead of Leclerc's at the corner, the Aussie had "no possibility" of an overtake, and that the Ferrari driver did not intend to "crowd" Piastri off the track.