Norris escapes penalty after F1 Russian GP investigation

After suffering the heartbreak of losing a maiden F1 victory in the closing stages of a dramatic race in Sochi, Norris was summoned to see the stewards for crossing the white line at pit entry.

The 21-year-old Briton lost control of his car in tricky conditions as he attempted to box for intermediate tyres amid a late downpour and ran over the white line at the entrance to the pits, before cutting back across. 

Norris ultimately dropped to seventh at the chequered flag but he will keep the position after receiving a reprimand for the breach following his visit to the stewards.

Typically, such infringements would result in a sporting penalty but the stewards ruled that Norris had “slowed considerably” to “approximately half of his normal pit entry speed” in the rapidly deteriorating conditions.

“Although obviously the driver chose to remain out on the track on hard compound slick tyres when others chose to change to intermediates, and therefore sought to gain an advantage in retaining his race position, we do not consider that the crossing of the painted area was intentional or predictable in the circumstances,” the stewards concluded.

As a result, Norris’ result remains unchanged and he will keep the seven points he scored for finishing seventh and setting the fastest lap of the race.

McLaren remains 17.5 points ahead of Ferrari in the battle for third place in the constructors’ championship.