Lando Norris penalty results revealed after sprint race American Grand Prix

During the final lap of the F1 sprint race of the United States Grand Prix, Lando Norris was in the spotlight amid accusations of erratic driving. The British driver, driving for McLaren, faced criticism after meeting Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the 19th and final lap of the race. Despite the tension on track and the subsequent investigation, the stewards ultimately cleared Norris of any wrongdoing.

The incident in question happened when Norris locked his brakes in the first corner of the final lap. This slip allowed Carlos Sainz, Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, to overtake him for second place. However, Norris remained steadfast in his defense of his third position against Leclerc, who aggressively pursued him. The battle was fierce, with Leclerc almost colliding with Norris.

In the heat of the moment, Leclerc wondered whether Norris had gone to his engineer while braking. However, after a detailed investigation, the stewards concluded that Norris’s actions, particularly in Turn 15, constituted legitimate defensive driving. The official assessment made it clear that although Norris’ lock-up in Turn 1 led to a loss of position, this did not amount to unsafe driving and therefore no penalties were necessary.

Looking back on the situation, Leclerc said the following:

“I didn’t expect him to do that. Maybe in the heat of the moment I figured out that he was moving under braking. I’ll have to watch the footage again.

“It seems to be at the limit with the way he took the line, but in the end it is also racing. He wanted to keep the position.

“I tried. It was a close call. We almost crashed, but in the end no one crashed and he ended up at the front.”

For his part, Norris questioned the interpretation of the incident.

“I don’t know where…oh the one where you have to turn and brake the whole way?” he asked, adding, “I mean, you brake in the corner. So it makes sense.”

Norris, the 24-year-old talent, has become a cornerstone of McLaren’s revival in recent seasons. With his first win earlier this year at the Miami Grand Prix and a multi-year contract extension with McLaren, Norris has cemented his place in the Papaya team.

As the championship race unfolds, the drivers now turn their attention to the upcoming qualifying session for the United States Grand Prix, scheduled for 11pm BST.