Lando Norris who earlier emerged victorious in the Singapore Grand Prix 2024 was penalised with a five-second penalty at the United States Grand Prix 2024. The penalty ultimately spoiled his podium finish and also dented his Championship run. Charles Leclerc won the United States Grand Prix 2024 while his teammate Carlos Sainz finished second. Norris' rival for Championship who is currently way ahead Max Verstappen ultimately finished third.
Why Was Norris penalised?
Lando Norris finished third, just ahead of Max Verstappen, after a late battle for the podium. On lap 52, Norris attempted an overtake into Turn 12, but both drivers ended up off the track.
Norris returned to the track ahead of Verstappen, prompting Red Bull to file a complaint with race control. The stewards decided to impose a five-second penalty on Norris, meaning he finished behind the reigning world champion.
“Car 4 was overtaking Car 1 on the outside, but was not level with Car 1 at the apex. Therefore under the Driving Standards Guidelines, Car 4 had lost the 'right' to the corner. Accordingly, as Car 4 left the track and returned in front of Car 1, it is deemed to be a case of leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage," the stewards said.
They explained that the five-second penalty was preferred over the 10-second one recommended in the guidelines because Norris, having committed to the overtaking maneuver on the outside, had limited options but to leave the track due to the proximity of Verstappen, who had also gone off. They clarified that this incident would not count as a track limit 'strike' for Norris.
Norris is currently 57 points behind Verstappen in the drivers' championship. Although Verstappen also left the track in his defensive move, the stewards concluded that this did not excuse Norris's actions. However, they recognized that Norris had a reasonable justification for being off track since Verstappen had run wide, leading to the lesser penalty and avoiding a strike for track limits, which would have been his fourth offense.
The stewards stated: “A five-second penalty is imposed instead of the 10-second penalty recommended in the guidelines because having committed to the overtaking move on the outside the driver of Car 4 had little alternative other than to leave the track because of the proximity of Car 1 which had also left the track. In view of the above, we determine that this will not count as a track limit 'strike' for Car 4.”
F1 Drivers Guidelines
The stewards’ explanation refers to the Driving Standards Guidelines, a non-public document distributed to competitors, crafted by the FIA in collaboration with drivers to promote consistent decision-making. These guidelines outline the rights of drivers when overtaking, particularly in determining when a driver has the right to a corner.
In the incident between Norris and Verstappen, the overtaking maneuver was classified as an outside overtake, which the guidelines describe as “a more difficult maneuver to accomplish.”
Three criteria must be met for the driver on the outside to claim their right to room at the exit:
1. Have the front axle AT LEAST ALONGSIDE the front axle of the other car at the apex and through to the exit.
2. Be driven in a safe and controlled manner throughout the maneuver (entry, apex, and exit).
3. Be able to make the corner within the track limits.
The stewards noted that Norris did not meet the first criterion. While overhead footage shows that he was alongside Verstappen on the approach to Turn 12, he fell behind at the apex due to Verstappen braking later.
The guidelines do not account for Verstappen’s late braking to reach the apex first, which ultimately caused him to run wide. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the situation would have been assessed differently had Norris been ahead on the straight.
In the Turn 12 incident, Verstappen fulfilled the first point, while the second is debatable, and he did not satisfy the third or fourth criteria.
