McLaren: Norris battled tonsillitis during Spanish F1 GP weekend
McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl revealed Lando Norris suffered from tonsillitis through the Spanish Grand Prix race weekend and praised the Briton for fighting through his illness to finish eighth.
Norris had looked unwell all weekend and said on Saturday that he had been "suffering with my throat and my eyes and seeing", saying it was something other than COVID-19.
On the grid before Sunday's race, Norris continued to look out of sorts, but once the visor went down the Briton produced a solid race to finish eighth, with teammate Daniel Ricciardo down in 12th.
After a sweltering race Norris cancelled his media duties to focus on his recovery, and team principal Seidl later explained that his driver was struck by tonsillitis.
"Obviously you're not feeling well all weekend when your energy levels being low with the tonsillitis he was suffering from," Seidl said.
"It was a very challenging race, especially in these hot temperatures, so he was pretty flat at the end of the race and after the race but thanks to the great medical support within the team that he has around him.
"The objective is clear now the next four days, we need to make sure he gets some good rest now in the next four days before we then go again in Monaco."
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL36, battles with Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT03, ahead of Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri AT03
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Seidl praised Norris for fighting through his illness to bag points for the team on an afternoon where ambient temperatures soared to 36 degrees, but only after the team's medical staff gave him the green light to start.
"I can't thank him enough for battling through and he showed a great fighting spirit because in the end it enabled us to score these four points today," Seidl added.
"It was just great to see the commitment from his side but at the same time it's also clear we obviously have a doctor involved in decisions like that and we would never risk the health of Lando, just to be clear on that as well.
"But after the doctor gave the green light today and after it was also clear from Lando's side that he would give it a go, we went for it."
If Norris cannot start in Monaco next week, the team would have Mercedes drivers Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne available, with Alpine reserve Oscar Piastri also in the Woking team's reserve pool after a deal between the two teams was struck in March.
Seidl would not be drawn on any potential replacements, saying the team would make a decision at short notice if needed.
Russell: Spanish GP "a survival race" for Mercedes F1 due to overheating
Hamilton: I could have fought the Red Bulls in F1 Spanish GP
Horner: Red Bull must try to keep "riding the wave" of 2023 F1 success
Horner: Red Bull must try to keep "riding the wave" of 2023 F1 success Horner: Red Bull must try to keep "riding the wave" of 2023 F1 success
Horner: Perez still held back by lack of confidence in F1's high speed corners
Horner: Perez still held back by lack of confidence in F1's high speed corners Horner: Perez still held back by lack of confidence in F1's high speed corners
The art of compromise behind an "emotionally draining" F1 job
The art of compromise behind an "emotionally draining" F1 job The art of compromise behind an "emotionally draining" F1 job
Norris details why he thinks McLaren can beat Aston Martin in F1 standings
Norris details why he thinks McLaren can beat Aston Martin in F1 standings Norris details why he thinks McLaren can beat Aston Martin in F1 standings
McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call
McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call
How Lando Norris is building up an empire outside F1
How Lando Norris is building up an empire outside F1 How Lando Norris is building up an empire outside F1
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck” M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
WRC Chile: Tanak in control as Toyota tyre call backfires
WRC Chile: Tanak in control as Toyota tyre call backfires WRC Chile: Tanak in control as Toyota tyre call backfires
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.