The F1 stewards have explained why Lando Norris was issued a five-second time penalty at the United States Grand Prix. Norris crossed the line in third place ahead of Max Verstappen following a late tussle for the final spot on the podium. After chasing Verstappen for several laps, Norris launched an attack into Turn 12 on lap 52 - however both drivers ran off the track on the exit. Norris emerged back onto the asphalt ahead of his title rival with Red Bull immediately launching a complaint to race control. The stewards ultimately opted to issue a five-second penalty, ensuring 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,” read a stewards' statement. “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. “A 5 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.” Norris currently sits 57 points down on Verstappen in the drivers' championship.
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