December 1st 2024.
Lando Norris found himself in a state of disbelief as he narrowly missed out on a victory to Max Verstappen at the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix. The race at the Losail circuit on Sunday was full of excitement, with Verstappen taking the lead from polesitter George Russell at the start. Norris, determined to challenge Verstappen, stayed hot on his heels throughout the entire race. However, his hopes were dashed in the final stages when he was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty for not slowing down during a yellow flag situation.
The severity of the penalty left many scratching their heads, including former champion Jenson Button who called it "unbelievably harsh" while speaking on Sky Sports. A stop-go penalty is considered the harshest punishment in Formula 1 and it seemed too severe for Norris' mistake. As per the rules, not slowing down during a yellow flag warrants a penalty, but some felt that the punishment did not match the situation. Despite his disappointment, Norris accepted the penalty with sportsmanship and went on to finish 10th, securing the fastest lap bonus point.
In a post-race interview, Norris expressed his confusion over the penalty, stating that he was not aware of not slowing down under the yellow flag. He added that he would not have been foolish enough to ignore the rules and put himself and others in danger. However, he acknowledged his mistake and took responsibility for it, admitting that the penalty was fair. Norris also expressed his gratitude for his team, who provided him with a great car for the race. He was disappointed that he couldn't do better and bring home more points for them.
Later on, Norris was quoted as saying, "I f****d up," taking full ownership of his mistake. The penalty cost him and his team dearly in the constructors' standings, as McLaren now holds a slender lead over Ferrari. With Charles Leclerc finishing second and Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri finishing third, the battle for the constructors' title will go down to the last race in Abu Dhabi. McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, agreed that Norris made a mistake but was furious at the severity of the penalty.
Stella expressed his disappointment in the way the penalty was applied, stating that it lacked proportion and specificity. He believed that the level of danger involved in the situation and the fact that the yellow flag was removed should have been taken into consideration. Stella called for a more critical approach instead of blindly applying rules without considering the context. He also urged the FIA to do better in such situations. It was a tough race for Norris and his team, but they remain determined to bounce back and secure the constructors' title in the final race of the season.
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