Verstappen explains why he called ‘foul’ on Norris in Qatar GP

Max Verstappen has explained it was his ‘check call’ to Red Bull that led to Lando Norris falling foul of the regulations and landing a heavy penalty during the Qatar Grand Prix.

Norris was hammered with a 10-second stop-go penalty for failing to slow under double-waved yellow flags. Although the decision to penalise the McLaren driver was correct, there was a feeling that the punishment did not fit the crime.

The FIA later explained that the penalty was ‘in accordance with the penalty guidelines circulated to the teams on 19 February this year’, and that ‘a double-yellow flag infringement is considered a serious compromise of safety, which is why such offences carry such a severe penalty’.

Norris, who had been challenging Verstappen for the victory at the time, dropped to the back of the pack after serving the penalty. The McLaren driver recovered to finish 10th, whilst also collecting the point for the fastest lap.

The failure to finish as the runner-up, or even the race winner, cost McLaren a significant number of points in its battle with Ferrari for the constructors’ championship, with just 21 points separating the teams.

As to calling ‘foul’ on Norris, speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen said: “I got there and suddenly saw a double-yellow flag”I lifted and Lando, of course, had a DRS, but he was approaching very fast. That’s why I asked the team if they could check if he had lifted.

“Of course, it’s clear that you have to lift at double yellow. Otherwise, you get a heavy penalty, which he eventually got.”

After the safety car had pulled away, Verstappen had to fend off Norris, who had pulled alongside.

Verstappen, though, still managed to gain the upper hand on his rival.

“I had very little grip, and, of course, I tried something different from the previous restart,” said Verstappen.

‘Only there was absolutely no traction in the tyre when I got on the gas, so I didn’t get away at all. We were next to each other for a while, but I just braked deeper for Turn 1.”