Norris gets Styrian GP F1 grid penalty for yellow flag breach

Lando Norris has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for Formula 1’s Styrian Grand Prix for overtaking under yellow flags.

The McLaren driver, who claimed his maiden F1 podium finish at the revised 2020 season-opening Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, was found guilty of the violation following a stewards investigation into the incident took place after the opening practice session. 

Norris passed Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri while yellow caution flags were being waved for Nicholas Latifi’s stranded Williams, which had just stopped on track with a suspected engine issue that ultimately caused a red flag during FP1. 

The Briton was warned about “yellow flags at Turn 5” as he approached Turn 4, before passing Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and Gasly as he accelerated out of the corner. Yellow flags were visible at Turn 5 and he was told “yellow flags here” at the time.

“The stewards heard from the driver of car four (Lando Norris) and the team representative and have reviewed video evidence," an FIA statement read. 

“On-board footage clearly shows that driver of car four passed car 10 [Gasly] while yellow light panels were clearly visible and yellow flags were shown.”

In a similar incident during qualifying for the 2016 Singapore Grand Prix, Perez was slapped with a three-place grid penalty.

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was penalised during qualifying for the first race at the Red Bull Ring last weekend after he failed to slow sufficiently for yellow flags at Turn 4 when his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas ran wide.

He was handed a three-place grid penalty following a review into an initial decision over the incident after new evidence came to light just hours before Sunday’s grand prix.