Norris hit with five-place F1 grid drop after yellow flag breach

McLaren’s Lando Norris has been handed a five-place grid penalty for Formula 1’s Turkish Grand Prix for a yellow flag infringement during qualifying.

Norris joins McLaren teammate Carlos Sainz in receiving a grid drop for F1’s first race at Istanbul Park in nine years after the Spaniard was found guilty of impeding Racing Point’s Sergio Perez.

Norris qualified 11th but will drop to 16th for Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix once his penalty is applied.

The Briton was given the penalty after failing to slow sufficiently for double waved yellow caution flags flown when Nicholas Latifi beached his Williams into the gravel at Turn 8.

That was despite the stewards acknowledging that Norris did not intend to improve on his lap time following their investigation.

“Car four [Norris] approached turn eight which was under double waved yellow flags for car six (Nicholas Latifi),” the stewards said in a statement.

“Telemetry shows that car four slowed in the sector and resumed speed after the incident. Car four then asked his team if he should abort the lap, but was told to stay out because of the rapidly changing track conditions.

“Car four completed the lap, which turned out to be his fastest lap of Q1. While the stewards acknowledge that car four was not attempting to set a quick lap time, due to the changing track conditions he nevertheless did so and thereby breached the referenced regulations.”

George Russell is under investigation for a yellow flag transgression, while pole sitter Lance Stroll avoided a penalty for a similar alleged offence.