McLaren deliver Lando Norris update after 'bruising' crash

04/19/2025 02:48 PM

McLaren boss Zak Brown has confirmed Lando Norris is "fine" after his hefty Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying crash, which left his car "bruised." Championship leader Norris crashed heavily at Turns 4 and 5 in Q3, and will start 10th on the grid, with Max Verstappen on pole and team-mate Oscar Piastri in second, separated by just 0.010s. Verstappen is eight points behind Norris, with Piastri three, with overtaking typically not easy in Jeddah, meaning the McLaren driver could lose his championship lead after the accident which left his car "bruised", according to Brown.  "He said he was fine on the radio, but the car is a little bruised," Brown told Sky Sports F1 when asked for an update on Norris. "We will get that fixed, and then go again tomorrow.  'We will just focus on the race, it will probably be one-stop, but there is a high-likelihood of a safety car, so we will do our best and see if we can get him further up the grid - he'll certainly be faster than he qualified.  As for the race between Verstappen and Piastri off the front row, Brown detailed he was "looking forward to that. "Our race pace is good, but track position will be key, and from the front-row, he's got a good chance, so I'm looking forward to a big duel."