Wolff questions ‘brutal’ Norris penalty

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has questioned the "brutal" penalty awarded to Lando Norris and has insisted that the FIA must remain consistent. 

The Qatar Grand Prix marked Rui Marques' second event as F1 race director, with him having already come under the spotlight. 

During the race at the Lusail International Circuit, Norris received a staggering 10-second stop/go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags, a punishment Wolff is unsure of. 

Lewis Hamilton also received a five-second time penalty and a drive-through penalty during the Qatar GP for jumping the start and speeding in the pit lane. 

A hard stance has been taken by the FIA since Marques' appointment, something Wolff is not against, as long as the stance remains consistent. 

However, the Mercedes boss pointed out that penalties as severe as Norris', could cost McLaren a first constructors' title since 1998. 

Norris had been in second when he received the punishment, which dropped him to the back of the field. The Briton recovered to score two points, although Ferrari still ate into McLaren's lead. 

Just 21 points separate McLaren and Ferrari going into the Abu Dhabi season finale, with Norris' penalty likely to be discussed should the Woking-based team not win the title. 

"I think the penalties were brutal, particularly to McLaren, could cost [them] the championship," Wolff told Sky Sports F1. 

"I don't know what the infringement exactly was, most important thing is there is consistency, and if the race director comes in and he has a hard stance, that's okay as long as everybody knows that's the hard stance, and you need to comply to it."