Lando Norris says he did not see any yellow flags after he was handed a 10-second cease/go penalty on the Qatar Grand Prix, which worn out his possibilities of beating Max Verstappen.
Norris was chasing Verstappen in a tense battle for the lead when he accelerated previous double yellow flags on the primary straight seeking particles.
After receiving a heavy penalty, the McLaren driver recovered to tenth and acquired a bonus level for quickest lap.
“Truthfully, I do not know what I am doing incorrect now,” Norris informed Sky Sports activities F1.
“Clearly I did not decelerate for the yellow card. I am not an fool, if I knew there was a yellow card, I’d have slowed down. I do not know if I missed it or was simply silly, however the rule is, for those who do not decelerate for a yellow card, that is the penalty , so it is a truthful penalty.
Norris’ penalty and Oscar Piastri’s unlucky timing of his pit cease meant Charles Leclerc completed second, so Ferrari moved forward of McLaren within the constructors’ championship The hole narrowed to 21 factors.
McLaren stay favorites to win the title for the primary time since 1998, however Norris stated Sunday’s recreation was a “missed alternative”.
“The workforce gave me an amazing automotive, so I thank the workforce,” he stated.
“I am disillusioned as a result of I could not have achieved any worse than I did and never give them the factors they deserve.
“So I made the workforce’s job tougher than it wanted to be. The workforce did an amazing job, however I allow them to down.”
Stella: Now we have misplaced the sense of proportion in punishment
The penalty additionally leaves Norris simply eight factors forward of Leclerc within the race for Drivers’ Championship runner-up forward of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ten-second cease/go penalties are uncommon in F1 and Andrea Stella was confused by the severity of the penalty.
“We checked the information. Lando really saved his kind,” the McLaren workforce principal defined to Sky Sports activities F1.
“Now we have to say that as quickly as Lando entered the world, the world was yellow, however the necessities have been very clear, you should elevate up, and it’s the driver’s accountability to acknowledge that you’re within the yellow space and you should again off.”
He added: “Then within the imposition of penalties I feel we now have misplaced any sense of proportion and any sense of specialness.
“Can we glance particularly on the violation, the extent of hazard related to the scenario and the truth that the yellow flag was eliminated?
“Then judging, utilizing that aspect – proportion and specificity – slightly than any form of rule e book, which is likely to be lined in mud, after which making use of it with none important method.
“So from that perspective, I feel the FIA ​​has a chance to do higher.”
Williams’ Alex Albon’s wing mirror prompted a double yellow flag earlier than Valtteri Bottas rolled over earlier than triggering the security automotive earlier than Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz suffered punctures .
Particles raced across the monitor for seven laps till the security automotive was lastly referred to as out.
“On the identical time, I believed it was unusual that the yellow flag was deployed after which eliminated, however really the scenario within the space was the identical – there was particles in orbit,” Stella stated.
“Typically it ought to get the yellow flag, however a couple of seconds later it does not get the yellow flag, which I’d say is unlucky.”
Watch the ultimate race of the 2024 Formulation 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – stay on Sky Sports activities F1 this week, with racing happening at 1pm on Sunday. Get Sky Sports F1 or live stream with NOW