Lando Norris did not take his foot off the accelerator under the yellow flag at the Qatar Grand Prix – a clear violation of the rules. McLaren does not want to admit that it has given a 10 second penalty for this.
The penalty against Lando Norris in the amazing doctor of Qatar was brutal: 10 seconds stop because the Englishman ignored the yellow flags and did not reduce the accelerator. This is the start/finish straight where the cars whistle at a speed of 330. These yellow flags were shown because the rear mirror bracket had fallen off Alex Albon’s Williams car.
The danger this poses was made clear a few laps later when Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas crashed into the section completely, turning it into solid pieces of carbon.
It is not yet clear whether Sainz and Hamilton’s tire damage has anything to do with this. What speaks against this theory: Tire damage occurred on the Ferrari and Mercedes on the left front, but the debris was on the direct right.
Anyway: penalty for Norris. The Englishman only finished tenth instead of second. And McLaren team boss Andrea Stella was angry.
“Of course we agree that Norris did not take his foot off the gas at that time. But we are angry at the severe punishment that was given for this. The FIA should be very careful if we want to have fair play in Formula 1. The ratio should be the same. Otherwise every something is going to be out of control.”
“It looks to me like someone took a dusty, old book off the shelf and said – hmm, let’s see what it says.”
The Italian confirms that McLaren is currently investigating whether the traditional racing team will exercise the right to review.
As a reminder: Article 14.1.1 of the Formula 1 Sport Law states that “if the situation changes, the relevant race officials must meet again to hear the relevant information”. Such an objection may be submitted up to 14 days after the event.
McLaren did this, for example, following the USA GP, where Norris received a five-second penalty (for passing Max Verstappen off the track). The new material must be “relevant, relevant and new and not available at the time of the decision”. But the British refused. According to the FIA, four early success criteria were not met.
Stella defiantly after the Qatar GP: “We hope the FIA will look at it again.”
In all likelihood, McLaren will be biting the dust: when it comes to double yellow flag violations (be careful, increased risk! Prepare to stop immediately if necessary!), The administrators are not joking and will do whatever they can to put a. introduction and loose decision to fulfill.
Qatar-GP, Losail International Circuit
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:31:05,323 h
02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +6,031 sec
03. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +6.819
04. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +14,104
05. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +16,782
06. Carlos Sainz (L), Ferrari, +17,476
07. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +19,867
08. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +25,360
09. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +32.177
10. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +35.762
11. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +50.243
12. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +56,122
13. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bull, +1:01,100 min
14. Liam Lawson (NZ), Racing Bulls, +1:02,656
15. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1 Round
outside
Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, turner
Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, Antriebschaden
Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, collision damage
Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, accident
Franco Colapinto (RA), Williams, Unfall
World Championship Standings (after 23 out of 24 Grands Prix and 6 out of 6 Sprints)
the driver
01. Verstappen 429 points
02. Norris 349
03. Leclerc 341
04. Plate 291
05. Sainz 272
06. Russell 235
07. Hamilton 211
08. Perez 152
09. Alonso 68
10. Hulkenberg 37
11. Gas 36
12. Tsunoda 30
13. Walk 24
14. Ocon 23
15. Magnussen 16
16. Albon 12
17. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 12
18. Oliver Bearman (GB) 7
19. Colapinto 5
20. Zhou 4
21. Lawson 4
22. Bota 0
23. Logan Sargeant (USA) 0
Builders Cup
01. McLaren 640 points
02. Ferrari 619
03. Red Bull 581 Racing
04. Mercedes 446
05. Aston Martin 92
06. Alpine 59
07. Haas 54
08. Running Bull 46
09. Williams 17
10. Sauber 0
