Fuoco and Norris handed F2 sprint race time penalties
Ferrari academy driver Antonio Fuoco and McLaren Formula 1 reserve Lando Norris have been handed time penalties for virtual safety car infractions during the Formula 2 sprint race in Monaco.
Fuoco claimed his second F2 victory in Saturday’s race. Norris crossed the line 1.1 seconds behind in second as the race finished under the safety car.
However, the stewards have found that both Fuoco and Norris failed to meet the delta time required when an earlier virtual safety car was ending. As a result, their respective time gained has been added to their overall race times.
Charouz Racing System’s Fuoco has had 0.8s added, meaning that he retains his victory. Carlin’s Norris was handed a 1.1s time penalty, which demotes him to third.
Fuoco’s team-mate Louis Deletraz, who secured his first F2 podium, is promoted from third to second. Charouz Racing System’s first victory in the series has become a one-two finish.
Despite the penalty, Norris continues to lead the drivers’ championship. He extended his lead over the weekend to 27 points. Alexander Albon in second scored four points across the course of the weekend, while Norris scooped 18.
Ex-F1 driver Roberto Merhi was also handed a retrospective sprint race penalty. He overtook Trident’s Arjun Maini for fifth place while the final safety car was deployed.
Merhi has been issued a five-second time penalty. Dropping from fifth to seventh in the classification, his penalty promotes Maini back to fifth and Maximilian Gunther to sixth.