Explained: Why Lando Norris was penalized for the incident with Max Verstappen during the F1 US GP

Lando Norris was recently penalized for his incident with Max Verstappen at the 2024 F1 US GP. The Mclaren driver went off the track, overtook Verstappen, and kept the place for several minutes, which resulted in him getting a five-second time penalty.

Verstappen and Norris started the race from the front row and went side by side into turn 1, which cost them both a number of positions. Both drivers kept fighting and pushing forward later in the race. The McLaren driver pursued the reigning world champion in the closing moments of the race. Norris attempted a last lunge around the outside at Turn 12 on Lap 52 but went off the track and passed Verstappen.

The FIA checked the data, and the onboard footage to make an informed decision on the matter. In their official statement, they explained that since Lando Norris was not ahead of Max Verstappen at the apex, he lost the right to the corner itself. It was then mentioned Norris had left the track to gain an advantage against Verstappen.

The race stewards imposed a five-second penalty on Norris rather than a regular 10-second penalty as the British driver had no other alternative other than to leave the track and pass Verstappen in the wheel-to-wheel battle. Consequently, the Dutchman finished P3, and the McLaren driver finished P4.

Lando Norris could have received another penalty due to his track limit violation but the stewards did not consider Norris's off-track moment with Verstappen as a track limit violation as he had nowhere to go during the tussle.

---

Lando Norris gives his take on the tussle with Max Verstappen at the 2024 F1 US GP

McLaren driver Lando Norris commented on his wheel-to-wheel tussle with Max Verstappen in the 2024 F1 US GP, particularly in the closing moments of the race.

In an interview with F1.com, Norris said that he felt it was appropriate to keep the position after passing the Red Bull star as he believed he was in the right. The British driver then added that Verstappen had to relinquish the position since he was off-track.

“I mean clearly I didn’t give the position back because we thought we were in the right – clearly we weren’t. I still think we were, considering Max went off the track – normally if you defend your position and you go off the track, you have to give the position up. In that case I was ahead, I kept my position because he needed to give it back, and that’s the way it is," Norris said.

Despite getting a penalty, Norris remarked on the 'fun' race he had and credited the Dutch driver for defending his position.

“I think I did the correct thing, but I don’t make the rules. Max drove well, it was a fun race between us, a good battle. He defended well, he did everything he had to do,” he added.

Lando Norris is second in the drivers' championship with 297 points and his chasing table leader Max Verstappen has 354 points.