Formula 1: Max Verstappen won a chaotic Qatar Grand Prix as Lando Norris was given a harsh penalty which put him out of the lead fight.
McLaren leads Ferrari in the constructors standings by 21 points. Despite expectations to the contrary, Ferrari is leaving Qatar having taken another nibble out of its points deficit , setting up an all-or-nothing last race in Abu Dhabi .New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer .
Rui Marques, the Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director, has been required to replace him for the final three rounds of the season. “It’s easy in hindsight to say it should’ve been cleared,” George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, told Sky Sports. “But the problem is you can’t put a virtual safety car because the cars are all spread evenly around the track, and then it’s probably too extreme to put a safety car for a tiny bit of debris, so it’s not an easy call.”
F1 was lucky the incident wasn’t more serious and perhaps that it didn’t influence the race more significantly, but there’s no escaping that the entire affair showed up unaddressed flaws in the way the sport is governed.McLAREN BLASTS FIA OVER NORRIS PENALTY AS TITLE RACE TIGHTENS Verstappen, at the time defending against Norris, noted that the Briton ate considerably into his lead at the start of lap 30, when the double yellows were first deployed. He told his team, which reported it to the stewards.
Then there’s the fact that Norris was levied such a significant penalty when drivers can often get away with a relatively small lift as acknowledgment that they’d seen the flags — though it should be noted that the Briton arrived at the first turn travelling 64 kilometres per hour faster than Verstappen did, no small difference.
Norris has also had his lead over Charles Leclerc for second in the championship cut to eight points. He then rowed that back somewhat on Saturday by saying: “I know I’ve still got it. It’s just the car won’t go faster.It was hard to tally the two beyond perhaps a vague accusation that he’s not getting an equal opportunity from Mercedes to do his best — an improbable allegation against a team with which Hamilton has forged the greatest partnership in Formula 1 history.
With his race ruined and the chance of points remote, Hamilton radioed his team requesting to retire from the race, only to be told to finish the job and take the chequered flag. The fast-moving Russell had rapidly closed on the slow-moving Verstappen through the super fast triple apex. Verstappen was on the racing line, and Russell’s evasive action sent him off track.
Race Control Timing Screens Bizarre Safety Call Lane Speed Limiter George Russell Western Asia Guidance Document Bitter Falling Stewards Room Rui Marques Alerting Drivers Constructors Standings Safety Car Pre-Race Decision Lands Lando Norris Team Principal Safety Car Period SNITCHING Mohammed Ben Sulayem Race Officials Abu Dhabi Final Race Race Director First-Second-Third-Gear Phase Christian Horner Final Twist Points Deficit On-Track Safety Forced Race Control Time Offer Final Rounds Sky Sports Peter Fox Rollercoaster Ride Rule Book Constructors Championship Fight Pit Lane Speed Michael Masi Five-Second Penalty Messaging System Jump Start Earning Mammoth Penalty Grand Prix Drivers Association MERCEDES TENURE Max Verstappen Right-Side Mirror Points Remote Qatar Andrea Stella BLASTS RUSSELL Ensuing Safety Car Harshest Penalty Yellow Flag Getty Images Inc. Charles Leclerc Carlos Sainz Sudden Departure F1 Academy Teams Title Sprint Qualifying Strange Run-In Safety Protocol Front Straight Karma Cruels Carbon Fibre Shards Title Showdown Asia Reconnaissance Lap SHOCKER SETS Post-Race Interview Alternative Flag Controversial Penalty Google Inc. Talking Pts Pole Position Meeting Room
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
F1 drivers release joint statement demanding FIA treats them like adultsAll 20 Formula One drivers have hit out at the sport’s governing body after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing
Read more »
F1 drivers unite to issue statement demanding FIA treats them like adultsAll 20 Formula One drivers have hit out at the sport’s governing body after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing
Read more »
F1 drivers part of open letter critical of FIA and its president Mohammed Ben SulayemAll 20 Formula 1 drivers demand motorsport’s governing body stops treating them like children in the wake of a crackdown on swearing.
Read more »
FIA surprised by unexpected departure of F1 race director before end of 2024 seasonNiels Wittich’s unexpected decision to step down is the latest in a line of senior FIA officials to leave in recent months
Read more »
Norris has ‘less to lose’ in title showdown as McLaren torches team orders: Vegas Burning QuestionsF1: With one of the tightest seasons in recent memory, the F1 season only has 3 races to go, with Vegas next in line. Fox Motorsport expert Michael Lamonato tells you everything you need to know.
Read more »
How McLaren can break generational drought in ‘unprecedented’ title run-inFormula 1: Formula One are set to include a new general motors team in 2026 as they continue to expand the sport.
Read more »