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Quali. 15 Mar 2025  05:00 - 06:00    |    Race 16 Mar 2025  04:00 - 06:00
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AUSTRALIAN GP

START RACE
Quali. 15 Mar 2025  05:00 - 06:00    |    Race 16 Mar 2025  04:00 - 06:00
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Norris Critiques Russell s Prep for Alonso Clash

Norris Critiques Russell’s Prep for Alonso Clash

05/04/2024

Norris argues Russell should have anticipated Alonso’s defensive driving, sparking controversy.

Lando Norris believes George Russell should have been better prepared for Fernando Alonso’s tactics in the closing moments of Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix.

Russell lost control of his Mercedes W15 at turn 6 of the Albert Park circuit after Alonso defensively slowed in front of him, ending up with a crumpled car in the middle of the track.

Alonso was handed a 20-second penalty after stewards deemed his tactic responsible for Russell’s crash, but Norris views the situation differently.

“There shouldn’t be a penalty,” says the McLaren driver.

“It was clear now that it wasn’t a brake test. Yes, what Fernando did was odd, even extreme, but I don’t think it’s even close to being considered a brake test.”

“Did he brake and downshift, I’m not exactly sure, but should there be a penalty in any way, no.”

“George, in my view, should have seen it coming. I don’t want to comment too much but George had time to see what was happening.”

Norris also argued that circumstances involving unusual braking maneuvers are much more pronounced in a race start situation, where drivers must be constantly alert when approaching the first turn.

“It’s worse before the first turn at the start of a race.”

“You don’t know when people will brake, but you need to react so as soon as they brake, you brake.”

“So yes, I would say it’s a worse case than what happened here, but the outcome here was much worse than what sometimes happens at the first turn, so I’m sure there will be a lot of questions at the drivers’ briefing.”

Alonso believes if Russell had avoided the crash, his defensive maneuver wouldn’t have been a talking point, but Norris conceded that if the end result was a crashed car in the middle of the track, “you can’t ignore it.”

“If he had stayed on the asphalt, it probably wouldn’t have been a penalty. There too, clarifications will need to be asked!”

Norris Critiques Russell’s Prep for Alonso Clash. Norris Critiques Russell’s Prep for Alonso Clash

F1 Standings 2025
F1 Standings 2025
#
Driver
Points
1
Driver Flag
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
2
Driver Flag
Lando Norris
McLaren
0
3
Driver Flag
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
0
4
Driver Flag
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
5
Driver Flag
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
6
Driver Flag
George Russell
Mercedes
0
#
Team
Points
1
McLaren
Norris & Piastri
0
2
Ferrari
Leclerc & Hamilton
0
3
Red Bull
Verstappen & Lawson
0
4
Mercedes
Russell & Antonelli
0
5
Aston Martin
Alonso & Stroll
0
6
Alpine
Gasly & Doohan
0
F1 Calendar 2025
F1 CALENDAR 2025
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Australian
Albert Park
16 Mar
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Chinese
Shanghai International Circuit
23 Mar
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Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
13 Apr
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Saudi Arabian
Jeddah Street Circuit
20 Apr
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13 Mar - 16 Mar
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