Max Verstappen has been handed a hefty time penalty for the late-race collision with Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was hit with a 10 second time penalty after the stewards held him responsible for the race-altering collision with Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion appeared to be heading for an easy victory at the Red Bull Ring but the McLaren charger was able to get within two seconds of the race leader after a slow final pit stop on Lap 52.
The two later locked in a tight battle for the lead until they finally made contact on lap 64. Norris moved to the outside, but Verstappen covered him off, the front-right of the McLaren colliding with the rear-left of the Red Bull, giving both drivers a puncture.
The Brit had tried to overtake on the inside of turn three twice, but once found the road blocked and then went too deep trying to pass. The next time a move was attempted, it left both drivers scrambling to recover their cars to the pit lane.
The stewards were not impressed with this defence, and gave Verstappen a ten-second time penalty as well as two penalty points for causing a collision.
“Before turning in, the driver of Car 1 [Verstappen] moved to the left, causing a collision with Car 4 [Norris],” the stewards wrote.
“The stewards determine that the driver of Car 1 was predominantly at fault.”
The McLaren driver did not resume the race, whilst the Red Bull star returned to the race and eventually finished P5. That fifth-placed finish meant Verstappen was able to extend his championship lead over Norris to 81 points.
George Russell claimed a shock victory at the Austriang Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri finished second, Carlos Sainz third with Lewis Hamilton fourth.
