FIA director Michael Masi explained the reasoning behind the controversial F1 penalty points given to Lando Norris and Sergio Perez during the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix
A number of drivers were handed penalties across the Red Bull Ring weekend as the action ran hot on the race track during the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix. Despite being questioned about the controversial nature of the penalties, FIA director Michael Masi stood by the decisions of the stewards and gave a reasonable explanation for the same. Read on to know what he said.
F1 Penalty Points 2021: Michael Masi Explains Norris And Perez Controversial Penalties
The final race result of a total of six drivers was affected as a consequence of a penalty at the Red Bull Ring. The major incident on race day saw Lando Norris being judged to have forced Sergio Perez off at Turn Four in the Austrian GP. The stewards judged Perez to have done the same to Charles Leclerc at the same corner. This was followed by Leclerc to have been forced off by Perez at Turn Six.
Norris earned a five-second time penalty for his misdemeanor. He served during his pit stop, allowed Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas to drive past him. Perez then earned himself a pair of five-second penalties which were added to his race time, and which dropped him to P6 at the flag. These were the three decisions by the stewards, FIA director Michael Masi went on to defend.
Masi believes that in all three circumstances, a car’s width should have been left to the edge of the track because the two cars were alongside each other. He also went on to defend the existing penalty point system and said the following. “So no, I don’t think they’re harsh. It was discussed late last year.”
Lando Norris is currently on ten out of the twelve points needed for a race ban after he ‘forced’ Sergio Perez off the track. Fortunately for Lando, two points will be removed before next weekends British Grand Prix.
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