Lando Norris reflects on costly penalty at Qatar Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

QATAR — McLaren's Lando Norris faced a sobering moment at the Qatar Grand Prix, as he took responsibility for a critical error that significantly impacted McLaren's race and their fight in the constructors' championship against Ferrari.

The young British driver was handed a severe 10-second stop-go penalty for not decelerating under double-waved yellow flags, a mistake that saw him plummet from a promising second place to finish 15th, although he managed to claw back to tenth place, salvaging a point for the fastest lap.

Reflecting on the incident, Norris couldn't hide his disappointment, acknowledging the setback his mistake had caused the team. "Disappointed, of course," Norris admitted. "I let the team down, the team gave me a great car today. Easily the quickest out there and I f---ed it up."

The incident came at an inopportune time for McLaren, as every point has become crucial in their quest to outpace Ferrari in the constructors’ standings. With just a 21-point lead and the final race in Abu Dhabi looming, the pressure is mounting on McLaren.

Norris struggled to understand his lapse in judgment, especially given the basic nature of the error with respect to the FIA's racing protocols. "I don't know what I did wrong. I'm not an idiot, if there's a yellow flag I know I need to slow down. That's rule number one, don't go past people," he said.

The cause of the yellow flags—a detached wing mirror from Alex Albon's car—apparently went unnoticed by Norris, even as others heeded the warning. Stewards later confirmed that the flags were indeed visible and that Norris failed to reduce his speed, emphasizing the critical nature of obeying yellow flag rules for the safety of all involved.

"The telemetry and on-board audio clearly showed that the driver of Car 4 did not make any reduction in speed in the yellow sector," the stewards' statement revealed. "The double waved yellow flags and yellow lights were clearly visible to him."

As McLaren and Norris prepare for the season's finale in Abu Dhabi, the team will be hoping to secure their position in the constructors' championship without further missteps. Norris, keenly aware of the implications of his error, is set on making amends, signaling his commitment to contributing positively to the team's year-end aspirations.

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