Lando Norris has been handed a five-place grid penalty for today’s race after the McLaren team confirmed that a gearbox change was required after a heavy crash during Qualifying yesterday.
The British driver had been posting the leading pace throughout Q1 and Q2 until a moment of oversteer sent him hurtling into the barriers at Raidillion.
The 21-year-old was taken to hospital for x-rays after he was seen clutching his arm when entering the medical car, but was thankfully cleared and released on Saturday evening and will be able to race later this afternoon.
Early this morning the team announced they had changed the gearbox, but not the chassis, and so he will be subject to a five-place grid penalty, but will not be made start from the pit lane.
In a statement from the team, a spokesperson said; “After assessing the damage to Lando’s car, we have decided to change the gearbox, resulting in a five-place grid penalty.
Norris will now be in 15th for lights out and said “I’m doing good, but I’ve been better,” following the shunt.
“I think just a bit bruised. Obviously, it was quite a big impact and I think my body’s just been thrown around a little bit but I’m good.
“I’m ready to race and I want to get back on track already because it didn’t end the way I wanted it to.
“Everything was going extremely well. Since the first lap in Q1, things were going perfectly and the car was feeling hooked up. I felt confident with the car.
“It was tricky going out in Q3 because, even on the out-lap, I was saying how wet it was because I was aquaplaning quite a bit.
“It was just a difficult situation to be in. How much do you want to push? How much do you not? I think, a combination of pushing a bit too much for the weather at that point and aquaplaning a little bit in the middle of Eau Rouge obviously didn’t end too well.
“I feel bad because things were going very well. I think I could have fought for pole position, but I’ve now given the team a lot of work to do.
“We’ll see where we start and try to score as many points as possible. Finally, a big thanks to all the marshals and medical staff for their help and hard work today.”
