FIA Slaps Lando Norris with Penalty After Verstappen’s Cheating Claim at Bahrain GP
The FIA has officially confirmed a significant penalty for McLaren driver Lando Norris following a controversial start at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, prompted by accusations of cheating from championship rival Max Verstappen. Norris, who finished third in the race, was found to have breached starting regulations by positioning his car beyond the designated white line in his grid box, resulting in a five-second time penalty that has sparked heated debate in the F1 paddock.
The incident occurred at the start of the race, where Norris, starting from P6, made a blistering getaway to climb to third by the end of the first lap. However, Verstappen, starting just behind in P7, was quick to notice an irregularity. “Lando is over his grid box,” the Red Bull driver reported over team radio, alerting officials to Norris’s positioning error. The FIA stewards investigated and confirmed that Norris’s McLaren was indeed too far forward, violating Article 5, Appendix L of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, which governs grid positioning.
As a result, Norris was hit with a five-second penalty, served during his pit stop, which cost him a shot at challenging for second place behind race winner and teammate Oscar Piastri. George Russell’s Mercedes held firm in P2 despite technical issues, leaving Norris to settle for the final podium spot. The penalty has narrowed Norris’s championship lead over Verstappen to just one point, intensifying their title battle as the season progresses.
Verstappen, who finished a disappointing P6 after struggling with Red Bull’s lack of pace, didn’t mince words post-race. “Rules are rules,” he told media, including PlanetF1.com. “If you’re over the line, you gain an advantage. It’s not personal—it’s just what the regulations say.” The Dutchman’s sharp observation has added fuel to his ongoing rivalry with Norris, with some fans on X calling him “Detective Verstappen” for his eagle-eyed reporting.[](https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-snitches-lando-norris-false-start-bahrain-gp)
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed frustration but accepted the ruling. “It was a human error from Lando, and we take it on the chin,” Stella said. “He made a fantastic start, but we can’t afford these mistakes in such a tight championship.” Norris himself was candid about the blunder, admitting, “I messed up. It’s a silly mistake, something I shouldn’t be doing at this level. We had the pace for more today, so it stings.”[](https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-snitches-lando-norris-false-start-bahrain-gp)
The penalty has divided opinions. Some argue it’s a fair punishment for a clear rule breach, while others, including former F1 driver Jean Alesi, called it “harsh” given Norris’s strong race performance. Posts on X reflect the split, with one user stating, “Max snitching again, but Lando’s got to know better—grid boxes aren’t rocket science,” while another countered, “Five seconds for a few centimeters? FIA’s too trigger-happy.”
Red Bull’s Christian Horner backed Verstappen’s vigilance, noting, “Max is a racer—he sees everything. It’s up to the FIA to enforce the rules, and they did.” Meanwhile, McLaren’s focus remains on maintaining their constructors’ championship lead, with Piastri’s victory keeping them ahead of Ferrari and a faltering Red Bull, who suffered from lengthy pit stops due to a systems failure.[](https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-not-f1-2025-title-contender)
As the F1 circus prepares for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Norris-Verstappen saga shows no signs of cooling off. With the championship fight tighter than ever, every point—and every grid line—matters. Can Norris bounce back, or will Verstappen’s relentless pressure tip the scales? The desert awaits.
