Lando Norris had a humorous response to Lewis Hamilton’s time penalty for exceeding track limits during the Austrian Grand Prix, suggesting that the penalty should have been more severe.
During the race, Norris was asked by his team to provide examples of Hamilton exceeding track limits as they battled on track. Norris jokingly stated that he could have given a live commentary on every corner, as he believed Hamilton had committed multiple infractions in a single lap.
When informed that Hamilton received a five-second penalty for his track limits violations, Norris jokingly expressed disbelief and stated that the penalty should have been “way more,” given the number of violations he observed.
Hamilton had been frustrated with the handling of his car, which led to his track limits transgressions. His complaints prompted team boss Toto Wolff to intervene and advise Hamilton to focus on his own driving rather than the penalties of other drivers.
Despite his playful critique of Hamilton’s penalty, Norris expressed sympathy for drivers who received penalties for exceeding track limits. He acknowledged that the pressure of racing can lead to errors and stated that he likely would have received a penalty if he had been under similar circumstances.
Norris emphasized that staying within track limits is challenging and that it’s not as easy as it may appear from an outsider’s perspective. He also acknowledged that while he didn’t receive a penalty, he understands the difficulties that other drivers faced.
Norris was voted as the F1 Driver of the Day for his fifth-place finish in the race, and he playfully attributed his popularity among fans to the presence of Dutch fans dressed in orange, referring to Max Verstappen’s supporters.