Norris reprimanded for erratic driving behind Safety Car

The stewards reprimanded Lando Norris for erratic driving behind the Safety Car late in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, finding a breach of Article B5.13.2a of the FIA F1 Regulations. The reprimand did not alter his race result.

Norris was eighth behind the Safety Car, which was deployed for an on-track stoppage for Alex Albon, when George Russell pulled to the side before Turn 1 with a power-unit problem. Several cars slowed. The stewards said Norris misjudged his closing speed, braked heavily and steered left over the kerbs into the gravel to avoid contact with the cars ahead; the kerbs reduced the grip available for braking.

Norris told the stewards that low sun and the resulting visibility made it difficult to recognise that the cars ahead had begun slowing earlier than he would normally have expected. They said he should have managed his gap and closing speed more carefully and taken visibility into account, rather than treating it as an excuse. The stewards considered his prompt reaction and avoidance of contact when deciding a reprimand was appropriate.

The stewards found Norris moved ahead of Oscar Piastri momentarily only because he left the track while taking avoiding action. Piastri immediately passed him while he was off track, so the stewards ruled it was not an overtake and took no further action on that aspect.

They also found Norris's rejoin safe despite Lance Stroll being relatively close, saying Stroll did not have to take avoiding action. The stewards ruled Norris did not overtake Stroll under the Safety Car and took no further action on that question.