Up Next
McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris has received a Styrian Grand Prix grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement during Friday practice.
Norris, who secured his maiden F1 podium last weekend at the same Red Bull Ring venue, was adjudged to have ignored yellow flags at Turn 5 during opening practice and will therefore lose three positions on the Styrian GP starting grid.
The Williams of Nicholas Latifi had parked up on the outside entering the corner, which caused local yellow flags that subsequently turned into a virtual safety car and, finally, a red-flag stoppage.
Onboard footage from Norris’s McLaren shows that he appeared to be slowing up in response to the yellow flags, yet he could also be seen overtaking two much slower cars on approach to the stricken Williams – these being the Racing Point of Sergio Perez and AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly.
As overtaking under yellow flags is forbidden, Norris was adjudged to have passed Gasly when he shouldn’t have.
“Onboard footage clearly shows that driver of Car 4 [Norris] passed Car 10 [Gasly] while yellow light panels were clearly visible and yellow flags were shown,” the stewards’ verdict read.
In addition to the grid penalty, Norris has also received two penalty points on his licence, which has had no other points added to it over the past 12-month period.
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said “the rules are pretty clear” and reckoned the stewards “applied consistency, so unfortunately we have to take it”.
“It was my mistake, to be honest,” Norri told Sky Sports after Friday’s running.
“I was on a push lap, these guys were on an out-lap or a cool lap, and I slowed up for the yellow flag, which you’re supposed to do, and I just continued to roll past the two other guys.
“It was my mistake, a bit stupid of me. There was no risk, these two guys were on a slow lap, I was on my fast lap and I lifted, but I just carried that little bit more momentum and passed them. Nothing more to say.”
