Norris’s Frustration Boils Over in Fruitless Verstappen Pursuit: Full Transcript

The highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix unfolded with a dramatic storyline, particularly for McLaren driver Lando Norris, whose ambitious pursuit of victory was ultimately overshadowed by a critical technical infringement. While the McLaren team pushed him to challenge leader Max Verstappen, an underlying issue with excessive plank wear on his car effectively rendered his efforts futile, culminating in a post-race disqualification that sent shockwaves through the paddock. This unexpected turn of events highlighted the razor-thin margins and stringent regulations governing Formula 1, where even a slight deviation can erase a competitive performance.

Initially, the race saw McLaren urging Norris to press on, instructing him to overtake George Russell and set his sights on the dominant Red Bull of Max Verstappen. Despite his team’s encouragement, Norris harbored skepticism about their chances, perceiving Verstappen and Red Bull to be firmly in control. Indeed, Verstappen’s calm and expertly managed race, supported by flawless communication with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, showcased a masterclass in strategic execution that day. Their synergy was evident as Lambiase joined Verstappen on the podium, celebrating yet another victory in what had been a remarkable season.

However, the true significance of Verstappen’s win became unequivocally clear in the tense hours following the checkered flag. Lando Norris, who had pushed hard for a strong finish, was controversially disqualified. Stewards found that the wooden plank, a crucial component on the underside of his car, exhibited excessive wear, exceeding the permissible limits. This technical breach, often a consequence of the car running too low and bottoming out, became the undeniable reason for his downfall. Towards the end of the race, Norris had noticeably reduced his pace by several seconds per lap in a desperate, last-ditch attempt to mitigate the wear, but his efforts proved insufficient. The unusually muted tone of McLaren’s post-race radio communications, even after losing a potential podium finish, strongly suggested that the team already suspected the impending penalty, adding a layer of poignant anticipation to the unfolding drama.

Norris and Verstappen’s Las Vegas Grand Prix Radio Transcript Analysis

Delve deeper into the strategic exchanges and emotional moments captured during the Las Vegas Grand Prix through the team radio communications of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. This comprehensive transcript offers unique insights into the race dynamics, driver concerns, and crucial team decisions that shaped the outcome, particularly McLaren’s unfolding plank wear dilemma and Red Bull’s composed dominance.

Jump to:

“You can’t do this”
“You kept it calm”
“He’s pushing, right?”
“That’s still what I’m afraid of”
“I guess we’re gonna take it”
“Clean air is just miles better”
“Mistake for Lando in seven-eight-nine”
“Am I trying to go forwards?”
“We won’t be able to introduce this tyre, unfortunately”
“What do you mean ‘get Max’? We’re just slow”
“Happy to lose two seconds”
“That was proper, proper domination”

“You can’t do this”

The competitive tension between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, two of Formula 1’s brightest stars, flared up even before the race officially began. As pole-sitter Norris led the cars around on the formation lap, he expressed significant frustration over Verstappen deliberately hanging back, creating an unusually large gap. On such a cool evening in Las Vegas, a longer wait on the grid meant further cooling of the tires, a potential strategic disadvantage for Norris. While it could have been a genuine attempt by Verstappen to manage his tire temperatures, Norris clearly perceived it as a mind game designed to unnerve him ahead of a crucial start.

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Formation lap
Norris	Final corner Yeah, he’s taking the piss with how big of a gap he’s leaving. It’s way over the allowed allowance.	Lambiase	Grip does look high on this left-hand side, so nice and aggressive.
Norris	Yeah, come on. He’s just taking the piss here. You can’t do this. It’s 10 car lengths, no?

“You kept it calm”

If Verstappen’s formation lap tactic was a psychological maneuver, it appeared to have some effect. While Norris defended his position at the start more robustly than in previous races, such as Austin the previous year, he was one of several drivers who misjudged the braking point for turn one. This critical error handed the lead directly to his rival, Verstappen. Moments later, George Russell seized the opportunity to demote Norris further, pushing the McLaren driver down to third place. The early laps were chaotic, marked by double yellow flags and a Virtual Safety Car, prompting discussions about tire management and strategic positioning even amidst the unfolding drama.

Lap: 1/50 NOR: 1’44.165, VER: 1’42.062
Joseph	Double yellow flags in turn one.	Lambiase	Good job, Max. You kept it calm. Kept your head. Car behind is Russell.
		Speaker 3	Just keep an eye on my right-rear tyre.
		Lambiase	And mode six, please, Max. Mode six. Gap behind 1.2.
		Lambiase	Gap 1.0. There are double yellows, turn one-two. Double yellows turn one-two.
Lap: 2/50 NOR: 2’12.717, VER: 2’13.534
Joseph	Track clear, DRS enabled.	Lambiase	Gap behind 1.6.
Joseph	And gap ahead 1.4, gap behind 1.0. Minor, purple C7 position one. Purple C7 position one. Sainz does have DRS. And Virtual Safety Car deployed, Virtual Safety Car deployed.	Lambiase	VSC, dash positive, dash positive.
Joseph	There’s double yellow flags turn one [unclear].	Lambiase	So Max we have double yellows from turn one to turn four. Turn one to turn four.
Lap: 3/50 NOR: 1’40.573, VER: 1’41.671
Joseph	Still double yellow flags turn one to turn four.	Lambiase	Keep working the tyres, Max.
Joseph	And still double yellows from turn one to turn four.

“He’s pushing, right?”

In the initial phases of the race, George Russell mounted a significant challenge, closing the gap to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. Despite his aggressive early pace, Russell ultimately found himself unable to launch a direct attack. During this period, Verstappen’s focus was keenly on the car behind him, as he questioned his engineer about Russell’s intensity. This early pressure underscored the competitive nature of the Las Vegas circuit, where track position and managing tire degradation were paramount. Both teams meticulously monitored the gaps, ready to adjust their strategies based on rivals’ pace and potential threats.

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Lap: 4/50 NOR: 1’37.491, VER: 1’37.421
Joseph	Track clear in turn one and… yeah, track… Virtual Safety Car ending, Virtual Safety Car ending, get on the delta. The race restart	Lambiase	VSC ending, Max. Virtual Safety Car ending.
Joseph	And DRS is enabled. Sainz does not have it behind.	Lambiase	You’ve got press-and-hold for three seconds, Max.
Joseph	Sainz behind will not have DRS.	Lambiase	The gap is 1.1 now.
Lap: 5/50 NOR: 1’36.965, VER: 1’36.594
Joseph	And suggest slightly more lift, turn six, turn 11.	Verstappen	What’s the gap?
		Lambiase	It’s currently one second. Yeah, 1.0, did not have DRS.
Lap: 6/50 NOR: 1’36.777, VER: 1’36.383
Joseph	And minor, purple C2 position nine, please. Purple C2 position nine.	Verstappen	Yeah he’s pushing, right?
Joseph	And opportunity, pace through turn three.	Lambiase	Yep, gap 0.6. Feel free to reduce or cancel management six-seven.
		Lambiase	And the same here at 10-11.
		Verstappen	Tell me the gap, please.
		Lambiase	The gap exiting the corner is 0.8. We do not get DRS until now, and that is 0.8.
Lap: 7/50 NOR: 1’36.777, VER: 1’36.383
Joseph	And Lando how’s the tyres, how’s the pace?	Lambiase	When you can, Max. Gap is 0.6. Engine eleven, position two. Engine one-one position two, not urgent.
Norris	Yeah pace three, maybe. Just [unclear] front still.	Lambiase	Okay, that gap is zero point nine, I’ll let you know at the DRS.
		Lambiase	Gap was 0.9 on DRS.
Lap: 8/50 NOR: 1’36.966, VER: 1’36.602
Joseph	And Lando strat seven, please, strat seven. Ideally do a small lift in turn 17, turn five, turn 12, please.	Lambiase	Gap 0.7. Norris pace at the moment 36.7. Gap to him 3.4.
		Lambiase	Gap 1.2.

“That’s still what I’m afraid of”

Notably absent from McLaren’s radio communications during this phase was any explicit mention or concern regarding plank wear – the issue that would later lead to Norris’s disqualification. Instead, Lando Norris voiced his primary anxiety: front tire degradation, a common challenge on the demanding Las Vegas street circuit. As Norris battled with his tire management, Max Verstappen, having successfully fended off George Russell’s initial attack, found himself in a more comfortable position. His team was able to provide detailed feedback on Russell’s and Norris’s driving styles, allowing Verstappen to gauge his own pace and manage his tires with a degree of relaxation that Norris could only envy, oblivious to the hidden problem brewing beneath his car.

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Lap: 9/50 NOR: 1’36.856, VER: 1’36.319
Joseph	Minor: ACS button press.	Lambiase	And one second, has DRS.
Joseph	Okay Lando, opportunity turn three, a little bit more to gain. Try and be more exit-biased if possible.	Lambiase	Strat three, strat three. And then engine seven, position two. Engine seven, position two. We can stay in strat three from there Max at the moment. Gap is 1.4. But whilst you have a little bit of margin, just be mindful of the slip and your pace through the corners that you know about.
Lap: 10/50 NOR: 1’36.439, VER: 1’36.899
Joseph	And Lando, Bearman is in P8, he’s currently 11.4.	Lambiase	Gap 1.6. Some signs of initial graining across the field actually, Max. So yeah, we just need to be mindful.
Joseph	Much better in turn three, keep it up. And Lando suggest coming down on the silver D switch next. So silver D5, please silver D5.
Lap: 11/50 NOR: 1’36.345, VER: 1’36.420
Joseph	And Lando suggest green F2, please green F2. So, picture behind you: there’s a group of four cars, Sainz, Hadjar, Oscar, Leclerc. They start at four seconds back. Then there’s Bearman, there’s a group of six cars with Bearman back to Albon at 17 seconds.	Lambiase	Gap is 1.2.
Joseph	Minor: how’s tyres, how’s pace?	Verstappen	Just let me know the differences when he’s pushing or not.
Norris	Yeah, I mean the fronts are looking a little bit worse. That’s still what I’m afraid of.	Lambiase	Yeah, so he was pushing a little bit more than you into seven and through 10 and 11. Not wide-open throttle, but less management.
		Lambiase	And the gap is 1.7.
Lap: 12/50 NOR: 1’36.264, VER: 1’36.453
Joseph	And Lando, we think you’re in a similar position to Verstappen. Russell, if anything, slightly better, but only a small amount.	Lambiase	Gap 1.8.
Norris	Front or rear?	Lambiase	So info: that’s Leclerc ahead of Piastri. Piastri suffering graining, front graining, so as I say we need to be careful on that front axle. Front flap for the next stint, please, Max.
Joseph	Front.
Lap: 13/50 NOR: 1’36.298, VER: 1’36.101
Joseph	And Lando, you’re currently the fastest car on track. If possible, slightly bigger lift, 17, five and 12, please.	Verstappen	It seems okay on this compound.
		Lambiase	Understood.
		Lambiase	Russell saving less in 10-11. We are a match for Norris through there.

“I guess we’re gonna take it”

The race saw the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) deployed for a second time, presenting a fleeting strategic opportunity. Lando Norris and his McLaren team were primed to react, preparing for a potential pit stop to capitalize on the reduced pace. However, the VSC period was withdrawn prematurely, denying McLaren the chance to execute their strategy effectively. This incident highlighted the knife-edge decision-making required in Formula 1. In stark contrast, Red Bull did not engage in any discussion with Max Verstappen about a possible pit stop during the VSC, reflecting their confidence in their current track position and tire strategy, further underscoring the diverging fortunes of the two leading contenders.

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Lap: 14/50 NOR: 1’35.962, VER: 1’36.209
Joseph	Lando, we’re currently thinking plan B plus five. Plan B plus five.
Norris	Yeah, confirm.
Joseph	And picture behind: Gap to Bearman is 16.5. He’s leading a group of five cars close together. The last of those is Hamilton at 21.8.
Joseph	And the size of lift in turn 11 is good. Just a little bit earlier, please.
Lap: 15/50 NOR: 1’36.087, VER: 1’36.326
Joseph	And Lando both Safety Car windows are open. Please confirm.
Norris	Confirm.
Joseph	Lando there’s a possible debris between 13 and 14, we think on the left-hand side. If you can close up to Russell, we would do.
Joseph	The D switch is more powerful than the A right now.
Lap: 16/50 NOR: 1’58.262, VER: 1’58.061
Joseph	That’s Virtual Safety Car deployed. Virtual Safety Car deployed.	Lambiase	VSC Max, dash positive.
Norris	I guess we’re gonna take it. If it’s not done in time. I mean graining’s picking up a little bit now. I think pace is good, but, yeah, there’s a bit of graining front left, front right.	Lambiase	Max we are double yellow ahead. Track is clear but still VSC. VSC ending. VSC ending. Just watch your dash.
Joseph	There are double yellow flags from turn 13 to turn 14. And Lando, if we were to fit the hard tyre we’d come down one, happy?	Lambiase	Press and hold overtake, three seconds.
Norris	Yeah I think so.
Joseph	Let’s stay as close to the delta as possible.
Joseph	And Virtual Safety Car ending, Virtual Safety Car ending. So if it’s ended by the time we come past, we stay out.
Norris	It’s going to be gone.
Joseph	Yep. The race restarts
Joseph	Confirming we stay out.
Norris	Confirm.
Lap: 17/50 NOR: 1’35.706, VER: 1’36.139
Joseph	And gap to Bearman is 20.1. Hulk is 20.1. 21.1.
Norris	Yeah, we are quick, so… yeah.

“Clean air is just miles better”

Following George Russell’s pit stop, Lando Norris saw a window of opportunity and briefly intensified his pursuit of Max Verstappen. He emphasized the significant advantage of running in “clean air,” a sentiment that underscored his lingering frustration over the chaotic race start and the lost track position. Clean air allows a car to perform at its aerodynamic optimum, free from the turbulent wake of another vehicle. However, after only a handful of laps of aggressive pushing, McLaren delivered a crucial, albeit unexplained, instruction: Norris had to back off again. This directive, issued without a clear reason over the radio, would later be understood as a desperate attempt to manage the escalating plank wear, hinting at the hidden mechanical issue that plagued his race.

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Lap: 18/50 NOR: 1’35.591, VER: 1’35.857
Joseph	Okay, this is our chance. Try and pick up the pace.	Lambiase	Russell is in pit lane, Max.
Norris	Yeah, no, I am. Clean air is just miles better, so …
Joseph	Confirming, we’re just gonna stay out, please.
Norris	Confirm.
Lap: 19/50 NOR: 1’35.769, VER: 1’35.860
Joseph	Suggest orange E7, orange E7.	Lambiase	So, gap to Lando…
Joseph	And Lando, the undercut power looks low. They’ve told Russell to manage his tyres with the target B… Sorry, plan B target plus 10, plus 10.	Lambiase	Gap across the line was 2.8. His last lap was a 35.6.
		Verstappen	Yeah, we can push?
		Lambiase	Yes, please.
		Lambiase	He is not managing at all into turn seven and a very low level of management turn 10.
Lap: 20/50 NOR: 1’35.680, VER: 1’35.756
Joseph	Lando, we need to start doing those lifts in 17, 5 and 12, again, please.	Lambiase	Gap 2.7. Just final sector tow.
		Lambiase	So Russell has now only just matched your pace. He’s now behind Hadjar.
		Lambiase	Norris has been told to lift 5, 12, 17. Last lap for Lando, half a tenth faster. Most of that gain was straight line in the final sector.

“Mistake for Lando in seven-eight-nine”

As McLaren strategically prepared for Lando Norris’s pit stop, a setback occurred: Norris lost crucial time with a mistake in the demanding seven-eight-nine section of the track. This error was immediately relayed by Red Bull to Max Verstappen, providing their driver with valuable intelligence about his rival’s performance. After Norris eventually pitted and switched to the hard tire compound, he sought clarity from his team regarding their expectations for the second stint. His question – “Am I doing my race or am I trying to go forwards?” – highlighted the inherent tension between preserving the car, managing tire wear (and unknowingly, plank wear), and pushing for a competitive position. McLaren’s response, emphasizing the need for better tires at the end to challenge Russell, suggested a long-game strategy, but the immediate effects of his plank wear were already making any aggressive pursuit challenging.

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Lap: 21/50 NOR: 1’36.320, VER: 1’35.574
Norris	Yep, pace will go.	Lambiase	Gap 3.2. Mistake for Lando in the seven-eight-nine section. He is also saving marginally more again in 10-11.
Norris	Front’s going a bit more.
Joseph	Okay. Understood.
Joseph	And Lando how are the tyres again?
Norris	Yeah, just graining front, they’re going away. But… yeah.
Lap: 22/50 NOR: 1’41.141, VER: 1’35.789
Joseph	And we can have strat six, strat six. Box this lap, box this lap.	Lambiase	And Max you can ignore the dash warnings, the front-hot dash warnings. So Lando definitely into tyre-saving mode at this stage.
Norris	Confirm.	Lambiase	Russell pace is 35.7, so no immediate requirement for us to cover. There is still Sainz and Leclerc.
		Verstappen	Yeah just keep track of my pace [unclear].
		Lambiase	Yep. Gap behind four seconds to Lando.
		Lambiase	Another poor eight-nine for Lando. Norris in pit lane.
Lap: 23/50 NOR: 1’51.904, VER: 1’35.958
Joseph	Norris arrives in the pits Stopping position.	Lambiase	Norris is one and a half seconds behind Russell. Russell pace is at 36.0 at the moment, no need for us to pit Max.
Joseph	Norris leaves his pit box Launch map, launch map, launch map. It’s gonna be out-lap three, stint two, careful of white lines at exit.
Joseph	Suggest red A4, red A4.
Norris	Alright, you got to tell me two things: am I doing my race or am I trying to go forwards?
Joseph	So Lando, we think this is plan B for everyone. We want to go forwards, but the way to beat Russell will be at the end. We want better tyres than him at the end.
Lap: 24/50 NOR: 1’35.860, VER: 1’35.807
Joseph	So the lifts into 5, 11 and 17 will help save those tyres.	Lambiase	Max we don’t need any tyre management at this stage. We’ll just react by pitting when we need to. So maximum pace.
Joseph	Suggest strat seven. Strat seven.

“We won’t be able to introduce this tyre, unfortunately”

Shortly after Norris’s pit stop, Red Bull brought Max Verstappen in for his tire change. He emerged from the pits a mere 1.5 seconds ahead of George Russell, a tight margin that necessitated an immediate strategic shift. Verstappen was instructed that, unlike a typical tire “introduction” phase where drivers carefully bring new tires up to optimal temperature, he would have to push them aggressively from the outset. This direct approach was crucial to maintain his track position and fend off Russell’s challenge. The Red Bull strategy underscored their confidence in the hard compound’s immediate performance and Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum pace under pressure, while McLaren’s efforts to preserve Norris’s car silently battled a growing, undisclosed issue.

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Lap: 25/50 NOR: 1’35.733, VER: 1’40.284
		Lambiase	Yeah, maximum pace now Max.
		Lambiase	Max again from flap for this next stint.
		Verstappen	Yeah it’s not bad to be honest on this tyre.
		Lambiase	Understood.
		Verstappen	Just make sure we’re not under-winged.
		Lambiase	Yeah, copy that. So box and pit confirm. Box and pit confirm. Focus on the box.
		Lambiase	And it’s strat 12 in pit lane please, Max. Strat 12 in pit lane. Verstappen pits
		Lambiase	Verstappen leaves his pit box Strat 14, strat 14. White line on the exit. Expecting gap to Russell to be around 1.5. Will be close.
Lap: 26/50 NOR: 1’35.603, VER: 1’51.173
Joseph	Lando minor: purple C3 position five, purple C3 position five. And then use back-right toggle turn 11.	Lambiase	Gap one point three.
		Lambiase	Yeah, so we won’t be able to introduce this tyre, unfortunately, as easily as we would have liked. But that was a 25 lap stint, 25 laps remaining. Gap is 1.4. And info: tyre age delta to Russell, eight laps.
		Verstappen	Is he saving now, currently?
		Lambiase	Negative. This lap he did not save into seven nor did he save into 10-11.
Lap: 27/50 NOR: 1’35.624, VER: 1’35.016
Joseph	So Lando keep using the toggle in 11, but do the lift as well.	Lambiase	Just for info, Norris still saving a small amount through 17.
Joseph	And Lando everything you did in 17, 5 and 11 this lap is good, keep doing it.	Lambiase	Gap is 1.7.
		Lambiase	Okay, with that increased gap he is now managing a little bit more in ten eleven. For info, Norris is managing more than the both of you. Gap is 1.9.
Lap: 28/50 NOR: 1’35.375, VER: 1’35.229
Norris	Yeah, but we’re just slow because of it.
Joseph	Lando, our biggest opportunity is still turn three, focusing on the exit like before. I know it’s bad for tyres, but…
Lap: 29/50 NOR: 1’34.948, VER: 1’35.019
		Lambiase	So gap 1.7, Russell pace 35.3. Russell is saving most turn three.
		Lambiase	Say to the tune of around 0.4 seconds.
		Verstappen	Four tenths in one corner?
		Lambiase	Pretty much, yes, yeah. Well, and through the exit of two, that whole section. We don’t need to save that much.
		Lambiase	They just replicate the first stint. Your first stint was very strong, very competitive. Tyre appearance looked positive. Probably the best of those around us. This should be a more resilient tyre.
Lap: 30/50 NOR: 1’35.074, VER: 1’35.098
		Lambiase	Yeah, so Max just confirming, based from the first set, absolutely no issues with wear. Your graining level was excellent. Russell will be increasing management in turn 11. So this will be 30 laps complete. That’s leaving 20 laps remaining.

“What do you mean ‘get Max’? We’re just slow”

As the race progressed, George Russell began to encounter significant difficulties with his tires, causing his pace to drop and allowing Lando Norris to steadily close the gap. Seizing this opportunity, Norris queried his McLaren team about their intentions, specifically asking whether he should focus on gaining on Russell or attempt an overtake. McLaren emphatically instructed him to pass the Mercedes, setting the ambitious goal of then “going to get Max.” However, Norris remained skeptical, his response revealing a candid doubt about their ultimate ability to challenge Verstappen, particularly given the underlying performance limitations and possibly the undisclosed plank wear issue that was subtly forcing a more conservative approach on track.

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Lap: 32/50 NOR: 1’34.442, VER: 1’35.127
Norris	Has George grained or what? Did he complain?	Verstappen	It’s very strong gust into seven.
Joseph	They’re struggling. They’re being asked to do more saving. Try and get in his DRS. That’s both Mercedes.	Lambiase	Okay, understood. So Norris last lap was a 34.7. Main losses were 10-12 and straight line. He’s in a tow to Russell.
		Verstappen	He might be faster than George. Maybe we should try and eke that gap out a bit.
		Lambiase	Tyres are reaching stabilised temperatures, we’re happy with that. As I say turn 12 was through-corner.
Lap: 33/50 NOR: 1’34.845, VER: 1’34.701
Norris	You want me DRS or overtake?	Lambiase	For info cars behind have pretty much reduced all management in turn 10. Now the gap behind is four seconds.
Joseph	Overtake him. Overtake him. We’re going to go get Max.	Lambiase	Yeah, so continue to reduce management Max. And that’ll be 17 laps remaining.
Lap: 34/50 NOR: 1’34.834, VER: 1’34.446
Joseph	And early overtake is available.	Lambiase	Expecting Norris past Russell down to turn 14 in this lap.
Joseph	Norris passes Russell Terrific mate. Right, let’s go get Max but continue with 17, 5 and 11.	Lambiase	Confirm, car behind Norris.
Lap: 35/50 NOR: 1’34.437, VER: 1’34.634
Joseph	And George does have DRS.	Lambiase	For info Max, Lando has been told to come and get you, and he is saving turns 17, 5, 11.
		Lambiase	For reference the gap is 5.1.
Lap: 36/50 NOR: 1’34.980, VER: 1’34.216
Norris	What do you mean get Max? We’re just slow.	Lambiase	Okay, so Norris pace in free air 34.4. Sector three mostly. Reduce all management.
Joseph	They’ve told Max to reduce all management. And we’re not slow. Our last lap was faster than him.	Lambiase	Gap is up to 5.5. Lando had a bit of an issue in turn three.
Lap: 37/50 NOR: 1’34.216, VER: 1’34.200
Joseph	And Lando would like to do a late overtake press into turn 14 every single lap please.	Lambiase	That’s a good lap Max. Gap is 5.5. You can look after front-right six and seven, and turn 11. Just watch your level of slip in turn three-four.
		Lambiase	Russell and Lando may be saving a little bit more in entry to turn 12, Max, just for info.
Lap: 38/50 NOR: 1’34.209, VER: 1’34.371
Joseph	Lando, opportunity. If we can carry more minimum in turn one to allow us to open the line in turn three, it might help the throttle on the exit of three. And reminder overtake 14, every lap.	Lambiase	For info last lap was same pace.
Lap: 39/50 NOR: 1’34.348, VER: 1’34.192
		Lambiase	12 laps remaining, gap is 5.3.
Lap: 40/50 NOR: 1’34.399, VER: 1’34.030
Joseph	And just be careful the late brake into 14.	Lambiase	Max, Safety Car, we would lose a place to Lando. Options are new soft.
Joseph	Lando, the gap to Russell is six, the gap to Antonelli is 16.7. So we’d still default to the hard. You still happy with the same number of laps on the soft as we said before?	Verstappen	Tyres are still good, I think.
Norris	Yep. But now we [unclear].	Lambiase	Yeah, copy that.
Lap: 41/50 NOR: 1’33.965, VER: 1’34.093
Joseph	And reminder about overtake.	Lambiase	Okay mate, so 10 laps remaining, gap is 5.9, Norris pace last lap: 34.4.

“Happy to lose two seconds”

In the closing stages of the race, a palpable shift occurred in Lando Norris’s approach. It appeared he made an independent decision to abandon his pursuit of Max Verstappen, opting instead to nurse his car to the finish line. He directly asked his team, “tell me whatever I got to do” for the final laps, signaling his willingness to follow any instruction to preserve the car. Joseph, his race engineer, responded by indicating that Norris could afford to lose “two seconds” – presumably per lap – to manage the situation. Norris duly complied, backing off significantly, by at least that margin, a move that starkly contrasted with his earlier aggressive push. This abrupt change in pace, without specific mention of plank wear on the radio, served as a strong indicator that the team was acutely aware of a critical, undisclosed issue with the car, and was attempting to mitigate further damage or avoid a penalty, though ultimately to no avail.

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Lap: 42/50 NOR: 1’34.081, VER: 1’34.133
Joseph	And suggest silver D4 silver D4, the fronts look more robust on this tyre. And reminder, overtake.	Lambiase	Nine laps, gap 5.7.
Norris	Let’s just do whatever we got to do, please, so tell me whatever I got to do.
Joseph	Okay, in which case just do more.
Lap: 43/50 NOR: 1’34.271, VER: 1’34.026
Norris	What do I do with 10? Because sometimes I lift more, it just feels worse.	Lambiase	Eight laps remaining, gap 5.7.
Joseph	Overtake. Whatever you do in 10 doesn’t make much difference. It’s more 11 and 12. The next thing you can do is earlier into 17.
Lap: 44/50 NOR: 1’34.435, VER: 1’34.470
		Lambiase	Seven laps, 5.9.
		Verstappen	I would like one more step on brake migration but [unclear].
		Lambiase	Okay, stand by.
		Lambiase	Okay Max, B-bal one, B-bal one and plus two clicks on the offset. That’s plus two clicks to plus one.
Lap: 45/50 NOR: 1’34.179, VER: 1’34.169
		Lambiase	Six laps, 5.9.
		Lambiase	So car ahead, Colapinto.
Lap: 46/50 NOR: 1’35.534, VER: 1’34.017
Joseph	And overtake. And happy to try a lift in 10.
Joseph	That’s four laps to go.
Lap: 47/50 NOR: 1’36.128, VER: 1’33.895
Norris	You’re happy with everything? Need more or what?		Four laps.
Joseph	So Lando still do overtake into 14. We can do an earlier lift into 17, bigger lift into 11. Happy to lose two seconds in the three laps remaining.	Lambiase	Can we have mode five, please, Max. Mode five.
Lap: 48/50 NOR: 1’37.702, VER: 1’34.122
Joseph	Overtake and then that lift.	Lambiase	Three laps remaining max. Gap is 9.6. Lando is nursing some form of issue.
		Verstappen	Is someone closing?
		Lambiase	Negative. I think he’s just managing the gap to Russell behind.
Lap: 49/50 NOR: 1’37.734, VER: 1’34.093
Joseph	And Lando you can reduce what you’re doing a small amount. The fuel looks okay now.	Lambiase	Okay, Max, this is the final lap.
Lap: 50/50 NOR: 1’37.187, VER: 1’33.365
		Lambiase	Press-and-hold, five seconds available.

“That was proper, proper domination”

As Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in Las Vegas, securing yet another dominant victory, the Red Bull pit wall erupted in celebration. Team principal Laurent Mekies congratulated Verstappen, extolling his “proper, proper domination” and “masterclass for tyre management.” The jubilant tone on the Red Bull radio reflected a flawlessly executed race and an unassailable performance. In stark contrast, the atmosphere on Lando Norris’s McLaren radio was notably muted. There was a conspicuous absence of any discussion regarding the race result itself or his position, a stark indicator of the team’s underlying apprehension. This stark difference in post-race sentiments served as a powerful, unspoken prelude to the impending announcement of Norris’s disqualification, a consequence of the technical infringement that had cast a long shadow over his race.

Chequered flag
Joseph	Okay, we’re gonna leave recharge off please. ACS button press and white H11 position 13, white H11 position 13.	Lambiase	Too good, mate. Just far too good.
Norris	What press? ACS press?	Verstappen	Oh simply lovely that! Ah what a great race. Car was really good. On fire. Well done. Really good execution. We managed that really, really well. So, very happy. Well done guys. Well done everyone.
Joseph	Yes, ACS button press. And it’s white H11 position 13, please, white H11 position 13.	Lambiase	Yeah, as did you mate. Your tyre management was right on point. Fantastic job. Can we just have fail 84 and recharge on? Thank you.
Norris	Yeah, I’ve done that already.	Mekies	Well done Max, that was proper, proper domination and a masterclass for tyre management. You killed everyone today, could only watch. So big well done.
Joseph	Cool, thank you. And Lando, if there’s any pick-up please.	Verstappen	Yeah, that’s very, very nice. Very nice to drive like that. That was very enjoyable.
Joseph	And we return to the pit lane, just be cautious in pit lane. They’re expecting cars to back up.	Verstappen	GP?
		Lambiase	Yes mate. [Unclear, they talk over each other]
		Lambiase	Yeah I know, I know, I know.
		Verstappen	Haha.
		Lambiase	Nice job. I didn’t think it was appropriate to say it across the line.

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