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Lando Norris Receives Three-Place Grid Penalty After Final Practice Incident at Spanish Grand Prix
Lando Norris’s hopes for a strong result at the Spanish Grand Prix have taken a blow following a penalty handed down by the FIA after an incident during the third and final free practice session (FP3) at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The McLaren driver has been hit with a three-place grid drop for rejoining the track unsafely after an off-track excursion at Turn 9.
Norris, who has been showing impressive pace throughout the race weekend, encountered trouble during FP3. While pushing his McLaren through the high-speed Turn 9, he lost control and veered off into the escape road. Fortunately, the Briton avoided contact with the barriers and was able to keep his car running. However, it was the manner in which he returned to the track that triggered an investigation by race officials.
After reviewing video footage and telemetry data, the stewards concluded that Norris had re-entered the circuit in a manner that was deemed unsafe and potentially hazardous to other drivers on track. Their ruling cited that the unsafe rejoin created an avoidable risk and did not meet the standards expected under the sporting regulations.
In accordance with FIA guidelines, the stewards decided to impose a three-place grid penalty on Norris, which will be applied to his starting position determined in qualifying. This development is particularly frustrating for Norris and McLaren, as they have been competitive throughout the practice sessions and were aiming for a strong qualifying performance to set up a promising race day.
The timing of the penalty is significant, as qualifying is scheduled to take place just hours after the announcement. Norris will now need to work even harder to make up for the setback and minimize the impact of the penalty on his overall race strategy. For McLaren, it means a shift in approach, with the team likely to explore alternative strategies to recover positions during Sunday’s race.
Norris remains one of the key challengers in this season’s championship campaign and has consistently delivered strong performances in recent races. While the grid penalty represents an obstacle, both he and the team are expected to respond with determination and tactical precision.
With qualifying still to come, the focus will now shift to how Norris can salvage the best possible starting position despite the penalty. His pace and consistency have made him a regular threat at the front of the field, and even from a slightly lower grid spot, he is more than capable of mounting a comeback.
The incident serves as a reminder of how fine the margins are in Formula 1, where even small errors in judgment can lead to significant consequences. Nevertheless, with a competitive car under him and a team fully behind him, Norris will be looking to fight back and deliver a strong performance in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
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