The United States Grand Prix stewards have explained why they penalised Lando Norris for overtaking Max Verstappen off the circuit in the United States Grand Prix.
The two championship contenders were fighting over the final podium position at the end of the race when Norris got ahead of the Red Bull driver at turn 12.
Norris had been fighting to get by Verstappen for several laps when he used DRS along the back straight out of turn 11 to draw alongside the Red Bull on lap 52. Norris was on the outside as the pair braked for the left hand turn 12 but Verstappen braked later than the McLaren and the pair rounded the corner side-by-side, with Verstappen just ahead of Norris as they reached the apex.
Both cars left the circuit with Norris taking to the run off while Verstappen also exceeded the white lines with all four wheels. Despite this, Norris overtook his rival to gain the position.
| Norris | I think I was ahead at the apex. Let me know if you think otherwise. |
| Joseph | We think you were ahead at apex. |
| Joseph | So our opinion is, you were ahead at apex, both cars went off track… |
| Norris | [Interrupting] Yeah, he also went off, so… It was clear. |
| Joseph | So Lando, we’ve had our third strike – track limits – which I know you’ll know. So no more track limits. No more. |
| Verstappen | Overtook me outside the track… |
| Verstappen | He needs to give it back. |
| Lambiase | We are on it, Max. We know. And we’ve also seen the moving under braking at [turn] one. |
| Lambiase | The stewards are looking at it, Max. |
| Lambiase | So three qualifying laps please, Max, from here. Three qualifying laps. |
| Lambiase | Also, Max, Lando’s exceeded his track limits. Expecting a penalty for that alone. So flat-out. |
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Norris remained in front of the Red Bull until the end of the race, but fell behind Verstappen after he was handed a five second time penalty by the stewards on the final lap.
| Joseph | [Norris finishes] Okay, Lando, keep recharge ‘off’, please. White H-11, position ’12’. |
| Norris | [Looking at the spectator screens] I guess I got a five second penalty. |
| Joseph | Yeah, they gave you five seconds just at the end there for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Not sure why. |
| Norris | Oh yeah, well then I should’ve just gone back behind him, shouldn’t I? |
| Lambiase | So gap to Norris: 3.8. He has been given a five second penalty, so keep pushing. |
| Lambiase | It’s four seconds. |
| Lambiase | [Verstappen… |
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