Unwell Lando Norris holds hands up to making 'a stupid mistake'

Lando Norris

Unwell Norris holds hands up to making 'a stupid mistake'

McLaren driver has a three-place grid penalty for the Styrian Grand Prix

Ian Parkes

Friday 10 July 2020 17:26

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An unwell Lando Norris has conceded to making 'a stupid mistake' that has placed him on the backfoot for Sunday's Styrian Grand Prix.

Norris has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the second race of the season at the Red Bull Ring after passing two cars - AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly and Racing Point's Lance Stroll - under yellow-flag conditions during the first practice session.

Holding his hands up to the error, Norris said: "I saw it. It was my mistake. I was on a push lap, both of those guys were on an outlap or a cool lap, and I've slowed up for the yellow flag, which you are meant to do, but then I've just continued to roll past the two other guys.

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"It was my mistake, a bit stupid of me. There was no risk, these two guys were on a slow lap, I was on a fast lap, I've lifted, but I've just carried that little bit more momentum and passed them."

Norris, who became the youngest Briton to claim a podium in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix when finishing third, finished eighth quickest in FP2, which could mean a starting grid slot of 11th if forecast thunderstorms wash out qualifying.

Norris, though, endured both sessions while not feeling 100% fit, and is simply hoping to be okay for Sunday's race.

"I've been struggling a bit, with something physically, I don't know with what, but it's been making my day a lot harder," Norris told Sky Sports F1.

"I've not been able to do as many laps. I've had to limit them quite a bit to make sure I'm in shape for tomorrow and Sunday.

"So not as smooth sailing as last week. I think I'm a little bit on the backfoot compared to laps and everything. I think the pace is there when I need it to be."

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl also had no qualms with Norris' penalty.

"The rules are pretty clear," said Seidl. "He clearly slowed down when he saw the yellow flag, he reacted to it, but at the same time he was overtaking cars, so it was a mistake of Lando, unfortunately.

"We fully trust the stewards to make the right decisions. The important thing is consistency. I think they have applied consistency, so, unfortunately, we have to take it."

Before you go...

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