sport news F1: Lando Norris slams 'worst rule' after Max Verstappen pit-stop under red ...

sport news F1: Lando Norris slams 'worst rule' after Max Verstappen pit-stop under red ...
sport news F1: Lando Norris slams 'worst rule' after Max Verstappen pit-stop under red ...

Lando Norris was far from impressed with the rule that allowed Max Verstappen to benefit from a free pit-stop under a red flag at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, admitting the protocol was 'luck' and 'the worst ever invented'.

Verstappen finished second to rival Lewis Hamilton in Jeddah but initially went ahead having benefitted from the first of two red flags following Mick Schumacher's crash after 15 laps. He was able to switch rubber before the race restarted, while Hamilton pitted under the safety car. 

Later on there was a second red flag after Nikita Mazepin went into the back of George Russell - with Hamilton then edging ahead following a collision between the title rivals, but Norris was still left seething at Verstappen's 'luck' earlier on.

Lando Norris says Max Verstappen (L) benefitted from 'the worst rule ever' at Saudi Grand Prix

Lando Norris says Max Verstappen (L) benefitted from 'the worst rule ever' at Saudi Grand Prix

The Dutchman was able to change his tyres under the first red flag before going ahead early on

The Dutchman was able to change his tyres under the first red flag before going ahead early on

He said Mercedes would have been furious had he gone on to win the race and said it was 'undeserved' in a move that tarnished the race.  

'Probably the worst rule ever invented by someone, the red flag, being able to change tyres under a red flag,' he told Sky Sports, via the Express.

'We said it last year already, not to take anything away from Pierre [Gasly] because people would probably say that's what I'm trying to do, but with their Monza race last year, Pierre got to change tyres for free.

'I don't feel like it's deserved in a way, it's just complete luck, and it's luck that doesn't need to be given to someone and that's pretty much what it is, just given to someone.

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