Lando Norris questions Canada Grand Prix penalty decision for ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’ - ‘It doesn’t make sense’

ByBen Southby

Published 19/06/2023 at 09:41 GMT+1

Lando Norris was handed a five-second penalty for unsportsmanlike behaviour during Sunday’s Canada Grand Prix when he fell behind McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri under safety car conditions. Norris has since questioned the decision by the FIA. “It doesn’t make sense to me. I was, what, three seconds, four seconds behind my delta – which everyone quite often is,” the Briton said.

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McLaren driver Lando Norris has questioned a five-second penalty issued to him by the FIA during Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix for “unsportsmanlike behaviour”.

The Brit crossed the finish line in 9th place but after his penalty was applied, dropped to 13th between Pierre Gasly in 12th and Yuki Tsunoda in 14th.

He fell behind team-mate Oscar Piastri under safety car conditions during the race and when McLaren later executed a double-stack of pit stops, Norris was fortunate that he did not have to wait for too long while Piastri was serviced.

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Norris was unaware he had been penalised when he crossed the line following a battle with Esteban Ocon up to the line, and was shocked to hear he hadn’t clinched a points finish.

“It doesn’t make sense to me,” he told Sky Sports. “I was, what, three seconds, four seconds behind my delta – which everyone quite often is.

“It was too early to box from what we were planning to do, so I wasn’t planning to box in the first place, and then I got a call just before the pit entry.

“So, surprised. I didn’t know [about the penalty], the guys didn’t tell me until just now.

“Unfortunately, the rest of the race I was very happy with, good overtakes, good racing a lot of the time.

“I don’t think we quite had the pace, but made the most of it, some fun overtakes, so I was happy with how it went.”

Norris explained that his tactics were no different to how others go about being behind the safety car, and suggested many others should receive the same treatment.

“Of course, you go slow and you go quick and you speed up,” he explained. “You want to keep the temperature in the tyres, so everyone leaves gaps and opens up gaps and it wasn’t like I was 10 seconds behind my delta.

“So if it’s because of the delta difference then most people should be given penalties for the last three years or four years, so I’m a bit confused.

“I slowed down to try and warm up the tyres a little bit and then as soon as they told me to box, I pushed and tried going as fast as I can.”

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