The Canadian Grand Prix witnessed a moment of disappointment for McLaren fans as their driver, Lando Norris, received a five-second time penalty, leading to questions about the stewards’ decision. The penalty was a consequence of what the stewards deemed “unsportsmanlike behavior.” Let’s take a closer look at this significant incident that unfolded in Montreal.
The incident occurred on lap 12 of the race when George Russell, driving for Mercedes, made contact with the outer wall of the Turn 8-9 chicane. The damage sustained in the crash eventually forced Russell to retire from the race. This incident triggered the pit stop window, and drivers such as Pierre Gasly capitalized on the opportunity to make their pit stops. Norris, who started from eighth on the grid, managed to climb to sixth position by the time the Safety Car was deployed. He found himself trailing his teammate Oscar Piastri, with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari closely following.
As Norris and Leclerc successfully overtook the struggling Mercedes of Russell and approached the Turn 10 chicane, Norris received a message from his engineer notifying him about the deployment of the Safety Car.
Norris’s engineer relayed, “Lando, Safety Car, Safety Car, you are the second car… we are box this lap.” It appeared that McLaren had planned a double-stack pit stop for both Piastri and Norris. Consequently, Norris adopted a leisurely pace down the back straight in Montreal, aiming to create sufficient space that would allow for a smooth tire change for both their MCL60 cars.
The stewards closely observed Norris’s intentional reduction in speed and considered it an act of driving slowly to deliberately create a gap for the pit stop. Consequently, they issued Norris a five-second time penalty, classifying his actions as unsportsmanlike. In their statement, the stewards referred to Article 12.2.1.l of the International Sporting Code, which pertains to infringements of fairness in competition and behavior contrary to sporting ethics.
Despite the penalty, Norris continued to showcase his determination on the track. Unfazed by the ruling, which he claimed was not explained to him during the race, Norris demonstrated impressive performance for the remainder of the Canadian Grand Prix. As the Safety Car was withdrawn at the end of Lap 15, he immediately launched an attack on his teammate Piastri at the Turn 10 chicane.
Norris found himself in the midst of intense racing action later on, as he circulated in a train of cars, led by Alex Albon’s seventh-placed Williams. Despite the penalty, Norris demonstrated his racing prowess, actively participating in battles on the track and making his mark on the race.
