Grosjean punished by FIA for blocking Norris

Romain Grosjean has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for blocking Lando Norris in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Norris had to back out of a flying lap in Q1 as Grosjean backed up at the final corner before attempting a hot lap of his own.

Norris eventually made it through and into Q3, qualifying 10th, but stewards regardless took a dim view of Grosjean's actions.

A statement read: "[Grosjean] was not advised by the team of the rapid approach of car 4 [Norris], which was on a push lap.

"The stewards accept that [Grosjean] did not intend to impede, however it is the driver's responsibility to be aware, when travelling slowly, that faster cars may be approaching."

After qualifying 8th, @RGrosjean has been issued with a three-place grid penalty - will start Sunday’s race from P11.

Let’s battle back tomorrow. ⬆️#HaasF1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/Xb5ruHc530

— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 30, 2019

Grosjean qualified eighth, but will start the race in 11th, elevating Kimi Raikkonen, Norris and Daniel Ricciardo up a place each.

The Frenchman's team-mate Kevin Magnussen followed up his best-of-the-rest sixth place in Australia by once again heading those behind the front runners in qualifying in Sakhir, earning sixth place on the grid alongside Max Verstappen.

"To be sixth is better than best of the rest, so that’s a bit new to us I guess, to be able to fight the Red Bulls," the Dane told Sky F1.

"I don't know if they got it wrong today or what but we're happy."

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