One of the decisive moments of the 2024 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix was when Ferrari gained several points on McLaren thanks to the penalty handed to Lando Norris. Race control issued a 10-second stop-and-go penalty to the British driver, forcing him to rejoin from the back of the grid at the 5.419-kilometre Lusail International Circuit.
This allowed both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to gain a position in the standings, increasing Ferrari’s lead over McLaren to 21 points ahead of the final race. To become Constructors’ Champions, Ferrari will need to deliver a flawless performance in Abu Dhabi while closely monitoring their rivals’ results.
Excessive penalty? A precedent exists
The penalty given to Lando Norris was actually appropriate when considering past cases, including one involving Ferrari. In 2017, Kimi Räikkönen received the same penalty from the FIA for failing to slow down under yellow flags.
In that instance, the Finnish Ferrari driver was also handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty but managed to use a Safety Car period to recover to fourth place.
Lando Norris was less fortunate, finishing only in tenth position after coming very close to victory at the Lusail circuit.
