Lando Norris could have saved the points by avoiding retirement after the accident with Max Verstappen in the Austrian Grand Prix. The pilot of the McLaren he retired from the race in the pits after the two collided at turn three on lap 64 of 71. Verstappen, unlike the Englishman, managed to restart the race and finish fifth, taking home very important points.
The accident with Verstappen: a disaster for fantasy managers
The collision between Norris and Verstappen caused both drivers' rear tires to puncture: Verstappen on the left side and Norris on the right. After the crash, Norris overtook Verstappen's damaged car at turn four, but the Red Bull driver overtook him at turn eight. Arriving in the pits, Norris told the team that the car was too damaged to continue, and although the team tried to repair it, they soon abandoned their efforts.
Reflecting on the accident in Austria with a cool head, Norris admitted that he could have reduced the damage by driving more slowly and perhaps managed to get some points and avoid retiring. Lando also served a 5 second penalty in the pits for exceeding the track limits. Therefore he will not have to serve any penalties at Silverstone.
This retirement not only shattered the dreams of Lando and McLaren but also those of many fantasy managers, who had counted on Norris as captain of their fantasy F1 teams for the NOW Community Club. Being one of the most expensive and best performing drivers, many had placed high hopes in him to achieve a high score. Instead, the withdrawal brought a negative score, a real nightmare for those who had fielded him.
Next GP at Silverstone: the opportunity for redemption
Now Austrian Grand Prix behind us, attention shifts to the next event: the Silverstone GP. This race is particularly significant for Norris and McLaren, being the home race for both the British driver and the team. Silverstone offers Norris the opportunity to redeem himself from retirement, without having to serve the penalty received in Austria. With the support of local fans and a McLaren determined to prove their worth, Norris will have the opportunity to showcase his talent and aim for a positive result.
The Fantamanagers hope that, without accidents and penalties, Norris can finally realize the potential seen in Austria and obtain that much desired victory. “Silverstone has always been special to me,” Norris said. “With the support of the fans and a competitive car, I am confident that I can redeem the negative result in Austria and bring joy to all my supporters, on and off the circuit.” A strong performance at Silverstone could not only bring precious points to McLaren, but also improve the fortunes of many fantasy managers looking for redemption.
