Season snapshot · 2021
Source: Jolpica F1 API- WDC finish
- P6
- Wins
- 0
- Podiums
- 4
- Points
- 160
- DNFs
- 1
- Constructor
- McLaren Racing
Race-by-race
| Race | Grid | Finish | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | P7 | P4 | 12 |
| Emilia Romagna | P7 | P3 | 15 |
| Portuguese | P7 | P5 | 10 |
| Spanish | P9 | P8 | 4 |
| Monaco | P5 | P3 | 15 |
| Azerbaijan | P9 | P5 | 10 |
| French | P8 | P5 | 10 |
| Styrian | P3 | P5 | 10 |
| Austrian | P2 | P3 | 15 |
| British | P5 | P4 | 12 |
| Hungarian | P6 | Collision damage | 0 |
| Belgian | P15 | P14 | 0 |
| Dutch | P13 | P10 | 1 |
| Italian | P3 | P2 | 18 |
| Russian | P1 | P7 | 7 |
| Turkish | P7 | P7 | 6 |
| United States | P7 | P8 | 4 |
| Mexican | P18 | P10 | 1 |
| São Paulo | P5 | P10 | 1 |
| Qatar | P4 | P9 | 2 |
| Saudi Arabian | P7 | P10 | 1 |
| Abu Dhabi | P3 | P7 | 6 |
Going in
Lando Norris entered the 2021 Formula 1 season for his third year with McLaren, a team that had demonstrated consistent improvement in the turbo-hybrid era. Following a solid 2020 campaign where he secured his first podium, expectations for Norris were tempered by the arrival of Daniel Ricciardo, a proven race winner. The 2021 season, still under the V6 turbo-hybrid regulations, presented an opportunity for Norris to solidify his position as a leading talent in the midfield, with McLaren aiming to challenge the front-running teams more consistently. The broader context of Formula One in 2021 saw a fierce championship battle at the very front, which pushed all teams to maximize performance.
How it played out
Lando Norris's 2021 Formula 1 season was a pivotal year, demonstrating his capacity to consistently challenge at the front of the midfield and, on occasion, for outright victory, culminating in his highest championship finish to date. The season began strongly, with a fourth-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, followed by his first podium of the year at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where he finished 3rd. This early form continued with another 3rd place at the Monaco Grand Prix, showcasing his comfort on street circuits.
Norris maintained a consistent points-scoring run through the first half of the season, securing top-five finishes at Portugal, Azerbaijan, France, and a third podium at the Austrian Grand Prix. His performance frequently outshone that of his new, more experienced teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, who was adapting to the McLaren MCL35M. By the summer break, Norris had amassed 113 points, significantly contributing to McLaren's constructors' championship standing.
The mid-season presented a brief dip, including a DNF at the Hungarian Grand Prix due to a multi-car collision and a challenging Belgian Grand Prix where he started 15th and finished 14th after a qualifying crash in wet conditions. However, the season's second half saw a resurgence, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, part of a memorable 1-2 for McLaren. This was followed by his first career pole position at the Russian Grand Prix. Despite leading for much of the race, a late strategic decision regarding tyre choice in changing weather conditions saw him finish 7th, missing out on a potential maiden victory.
Norris continued to score points in the remaining races, including two 7th place finishes in Turkey and Abu Dhabi, and a string of lower points finishes. He concluded the season in 6th place in the Drivers' Championship with 160 points, 0 wins, and 4 podiums, with only one DNF across the 22 races. This placed him two positions and 45 points ahead of Ricciardo, underscoring his strong individual performance. For a comprehensive overview of the season's results, the provides detailed statistics.