Austrian Grand Prix: Lando Norris says he needs to stop making as many mistakes

Norris denied that his issues so far are a concern for him.

“There is a very long way in the season, so I’m not worried about anything,” he said. “But of course, I know it’s always never a good thing to lose out on points, no matter what race it is. Obviously, last time out, I was the only one who lost the points. And I’ve paid a price for misjudging things like I did.”

Norris said it had taken him “a little time” to get over the incident in Canada, and the fact that it had happened with a team-mate had been “the most painful part of it”.

But he said he believed the fact that he owned up to his error in Canada immediately had been an important factor that had helped the team bond.

“That’s a good example for us as a team,” he said. “It’s also between the trust and the honesty that Oscar and I have for one another.

“I made it clear from the immediate moment that I misjudged it and I took the fault for it. So yes, of course not the most joyful conversations, but conversations that needed to be had.”

Both Norris and Piastri said they expected McLaren to be back on form in Austria this weekend.

“It’s been one of our better ones in the past,” Norris said. “It’s also been a very good one for Red Bull and for Max. They were on pole by four and a half tenths last year.

“We expect to be good, but maybe struggle a little bit in qualifying, comparing to some of our competitors.”

Both Red Bull and McLaren have upgrades on their car this weekend. Verstappen, who is going for his fifth win in Austria, his team’s own track, is in third place in the championship, 21 points behind Norris.