Lando Norris has expressed his confusion and dissatisfaction with the five-second penalty imposed on him during the Canadian Grand Prix for what the FIA deemed to be unsportsmanlike behavior. The McLaren driver fell behind his teammate Oscar Piastri during the race under Safety Car conditions, which prompted the penalty.
McLaren later executed a double-stack pit stop, a strategy in which both drivers are serviced in quick succession. This proved beneficial for Norris, as he didn’t have to wait long for his turn, unlike Piastri. Ultimately, Norris crossed the finish line in ninth place. However, the five-second penalty added to his race time caused him to drop to 13th position in the final classification.
Throughout the race, Norris engaged in a battle with Esteban Ocon and remained unaware of the penalty until after the race had concluded. The surprise of losing his hard-earned points left him questioning the decision made by the race stewards.
“It doesn’t make sense to me,” Norris expressed his confusion in an interview with Sky Sports F1. “I was, what, three seconds, four seconds behind my delta – which everyone quite often is.”
Norris continued to explain that it was too early to pit according to their original race plan, so he had no intention of coming in. However, he received a call just before the pit entry, instructing him to do so. Consequently, he was taken aback by the penalty, as it was unexpected and not communicated to him during the race.
The incident has sparked debate and raised questions about the consistency and clarity of penalty decisions in Formula 1. Norris’ frustration reflects the need for improved communication between the teams and drivers, ensuring they are fully aware of any penalties incurred during the race.
