Lando Norris in race against time to be fit for Brazilian GP after bout of FOOD POISONING with Nyck de Vries on standby
LANDO NORRIS is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend after going down with suspected food poisoning.
The McLaren driver, 22, was forced to abandon his media duties at Interlagos on Thursday, and is resting at the team hotel in Sao Paulo.
Norris has been in Brazil since the weekend and spent Wednesday evening watching Sao Paulo side Palmeiras beat América Mineiro 2-1.
He also posted a snap on Instagram of himself eating some chips at a buffet, presumably before the game.
McLaren have allowed him more recovery time however, Dutch driver Nyck de Vries – who stood in for Alex Albon at the Italian Grand Prix in September after the Williams driver contracted appendicitis – is on standby.
Norris wasn’t too optimistic about McLaren’s chances of a strong finish at the Autódromo Jose Carlos Pace.
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He said: “I wouldn’t say Brazil is going to suit us at all with the balance of the car and out struggles.
“I think even the last few races we’ve not been the quickest car or quick enough.
“We’ve just done a better job with the strategy and with reliability to at least get to the checkered flag.”
Despite a disappointing season, Norris still has full faith in the McLaren project.
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He said: “I didn’t come into the season expecting us to be on the podium every weekend and fighting, maybe not top steps, but fighting for third and fourth, and fifth.
“I wasn’t probably expecting that every weekend.
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“It’s always hard, especially when it’s a new car, new era of cars, to know exactly what’s going to happen.
“People are always going to find much better solutions, you know, like with Red Bull and not porpoising and not bouncing anywhere near as much as other people, Mercedes with their car, like there’s some big differences.”