---
title: "Norris: ‘terrible’ Pirelli tyres, not drivers, to blame for F1 restart crashes"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2023/04/06/norris-terrible-pirelli-tyres-not-drivers-to-blame-for-restart-crashes/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2023-04-06T09:26:50Z"
modified: "2023-04-06T09:27:00Z"
---

# Norris: ‘terrible’ Pirelli tyres, not drivers, to blame for F1 restart crashes

Lando Norris says Pirelli’s “terrible” low grip tyres were at fault for the final incident-filled standing restart in the Australian Grand Prix, not the drivers.

Formula 1 stewards threw a late red flag after Kevin Magnussen hit the wall on the exit of Turn 2, flinging debris over the Albert Park circuit.

This left drivers tackling another standing restart with two laps remaining, but a chain of incidents would see four cars knocked out on the spot and a further red flag stoppage.

Carlos Sainz spun Fernando Alonso around at Turn 1, while both Alpine’s collided with each other and ended up in the barriers and Logan Sargeant rear-ended Nyck de Vries putting both cars in the gravel.

Drivers were deemed responsible for late-race chaos but Norris argued this was not the main factor in what triggered the incidents, blaming the Pirelli rubber that offered little grip.

Asked about the criticism of the drivers who caused the incidents, Norris said, as quoted by The Race: “Nothing against them, but they don’t know what’s going on inside the car.

“We have a soft \[tyre\] on that’s 65C and I can’t describe how little grip there is on track.

“65C is not a bad temperature but the tyre doesn’t work, and on this surface with this track temp, I can’t describe how the grip is. That’s why you see everyone going straight on at Turn 1 and locking up.

“It’s 65C and a soft tyre and it provides literally no grip, so you have to brake so early, which causes chaos and incidents. But if the tyres felt like they gave us some grip, you’d be able to see a good race without chaos and some clumsiness and things like that.

“It’s just difficult. I wouldn’t say it’s just clumsy from everyone and you’re racing and there’s no grip, simple as that.

“We need a tyre that gives us more grip and actually a tyre that feels like it should be on a Formula 1 car, at the top of motorsport and at the moment on a day like today, it feels pretty terrible.”

The decision to red flag the race for a two-lap sprint finish was met with criticism from several drivers, who felt the late stoppage was not necessary.

“I don’t feel that the second red flag was needed,” said Norris. “It felt like it was just four laps to go \[and\] they don’t want to finish under safety car. \[It\] just caused a bad end to the race.

“If we just finished under safety car that would have been more straightforward, so a bit annoying from that side but I guess we got a bit lucky and got a position on Gasly. But also, \[it\] could have been a lot worse.”

Norris managed to avoid the chaos at the final restart and finish in sixth place to secure his first points of the season, but the McLaren driver called on the FIA to consider rethinking the rules that can wipe out all of the hard work a driver has done over a race distance.

“The whole point of red flagging it – it feels like – was just to put on a show,” said Norris.

“I feel like I could have been so unlucky through no reason. I feel like I easily could have crashed with \[Nico\] Hulkenberg at the end because you’ve got people off and suddenly swerving and things like that.

“We come all the way to Australia but it’s so much hard work, drive 55, 56 laps perfectly and because they try put on a show, you just get unlucky and everything can get taken away from you all of sudden.

“That side of it just needs a small rethink. I don’t think it needs a change, just a small rethink.”