Lando Norris escaped a potential title-deciding penalty after a tense overtake on Yuki Tsunoda during Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris lost a place to McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri on the opening lap but held firm against early attacks from Charles Leclerc.
Third place was all the Briton needed to secure the championship, even with Max Verstappen set for victory.
McLaren pulled the trigger first in the strategic battle. Norris stopped before both title rivals and rejoined in traffic, needing clean overtakes to stabilise his race.
He cut through the midfield quickly before reaching Tsunoda, Verstappen’s team-mate, who had started on Hard tyres and stayed out to disrupt Norris’ run.
Tsunoda signalled his intent over team radio, but the initial approach to the hairpin looked routine.
Norris sat half a second behind as they powered onto the long back straight, only for Tsunoda to weave repeatedly in an attempt to break the slipstream.
His final move left pushed Norris even further to the inside, forcing the McLaren across the white line at the edge of the track as the overtake happened.
Both drivers were placed under investigation. Tsunoda faced scrutiny for forcing another car off the circuit; Norris was checked for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
The stewards ruled Tsunoda had made more than one defensive move and failed to leave a car’s width on the approach to the corner, breaching FIA guidelines.
He received a five-second penalty. Norris escaped without further action because he had been pushed off the track rather than choosing to leave it voluntarily.
FIA regulations require drivers to use the track “at all times” unless they have a justifiable reason.
In this case, the stewards judged that Tsunoda’s late swerve created that justification, removing the need for Norris to hand back the position.
A harsher penalty for Norris could have dropped him behind Leclerc and endangered his title.
Even so, McLaren hinted they were prepared to manage the situation by using Piastri if necessary to protect their lead driver’s podium.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown backed the ruling during the race. “It was clearly the right decision,” he told Sky Sports F1.
“That was a dangerous and unnecessary manoeuvre. It’s a team sport, so of course the second car will try to help, but there’s a limit. Yuki crossed it.”
With the investigation resolved, Norris continued unchallenged and sealed the championship, while Tsunoda’s penalty served as the only official fallout from the incident.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi GP, Lando Norris third to seal F1 title
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