Lando Norris says drivers should be punished more severely in the junior categories to teach them discipline before they reach F1.

Norris, who raced in Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 4 and Formula Renault Eurocup before reaching Formula 1, said less experienced drivers need firmer treatment from the stewards.

“In certain championships [there’s] been times where maybe people haven’t been punished enough,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “They’ve been punished but not in a bad way or enough for it to really have an impact. It’s been three-place grid penalty of five-place or something like that. Sometimes just a verbal warning.”

The McLaren driver believes the balance in the severity of stewarding drivers experience as they move up to F1 should change. “I don’t think it would hurt bringing them up maybe more strict,” he said.

“In Formula 1 we obviously want the rules to be opened up more and to race more and so on. But I think being not schooled properly and then being schooled more come Formula 1, I think it’s the wrong way.

“It should be schooled more in the lower categories and more free to do what you want in F1, knowing what you’ve learnt in the past than being more open and saying ‘oh yeah but they’re young and whatever’ and then being schooled more in F1 with more rules and everything. It should be the opposite. Start with a lot of rules and it kind of opens up come Formula 1.”

Read RaceFans in-depth interview with Lando Norris including why it took him so long to believe he could become an F1 driver, why he didn’t follow his hero Valentino Rossi into Moto GP, and why he’s doing less simracing this year

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2019 F1 season