Max Verstappen noticed that Lando Norris didn’t take his foot off the accelerator during the double yellow phase in Qatar. The champion reported this on the radio – and Norris was punished. Brit then admitted: He would have done the same thing.
For a long time, Lando Norris was the first follower of Max Verstappen in the Qatar GP, taking the lead at the start of the race and thus avenging the lost pole. The Dutchman controlled the race and did everything right – and when the double yellow flag flew briefly, he took his foot off the accelerator.
The McLaren driver behind him did not do this and came very close to the Red Bull Racing star. Verstappen then asked his team over the radio if the Brit had slowed down during the yellow phase and if the race officials had been informed about this. Officials watched the incident carefully and could not help but give Norris a stop and go penalty for 10 seconds, which sent him back to the back of the field.
Norris, who fought his way back into tenth place and into the points before the checkered flag fell, showed an understanding of his opponent’s behavior at the front. When informed of Verstappen’s radio traffic after the race, he explained: “It’s good for him. Everyone does it, I would do the same.”
And the 25-year-old player also openly admitted: “Obviously I’m disappointed because I let the team down. It gave me a good car today that was faster on the track and I destroyed it.”
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. Racing Bull 46
09. Williams 17
10. Sauber 0
