Last Updated on November 4 2024, 8:39 am
Russell also sanctioned: Lando Norris penalty upheld after Brazil GP to compound an unfortunate race for Lando amid hopes dashed of championship gains on Verstappen – Lando Norris suffered a frustrating end to the Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing a distant sixth after a turbulent race full of safety car interruptions, mistakes and bad timing.
The result fell well short of his hopes of closing the gap on championship leader Max Verstappen. To add to the disappointment, Norris was later sanctioned by the stewards, adding a €5,000 fine to an already challenging race day.
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Stewards’ verdict: start procedure mishap costs Norris
Norris’ penalty stemmed from a misstep in the starting procedure, where he prematurely started a second warm-up lap and inadvertently set off a chain reaction. The sequence of events began when Lance Stroll crashed during the formation lap, causing Norris and George Russell, who were lined up side by side on the front row, to prematurely start a second warm-up lap.
According to the stewards’ official decision, this action resulted in a breach of Article 47.1 of the sporting regulations, which stipulates that drivers must remain on the grid if a start is abandoned.
“The driver left the grid when the signal to abandon the start was given,” said the stewards’ decision. They added: “The Race Director initiated the procedure to abort the start, which means that the drivers should not leave the grid. This was necessary because a car (STR) had to be recovered in turn four”.
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Stroll’s crash triggers complications on wet track
The chain of events began when Stroll crashed on the rain-slicked track during the formation lap. His Aston Martin skidded off the track and became stuck in the gravel and had to be removed before the race could continue. Despite clear signals from Race Control – both visual and via team communications – Norris and Russell interpreted the situation differently, believing that an additional formation lap was necessary.
Their early departure from the grid set in motion a sequence that prompted the majority of the other drivers to follow suit.
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The wider implications of the early lap
In their post-race statement, the stewards acknowledged that Norris and Russell’s actions had inadvertently caused a domino effect. The front row positions of both drivers and their subsequent movements affected almost the entire field.
“As front row drivers, Norris and Russell effectively triggered the actions of the drivers immediately behind them on the grid,” the stewards stated. The misinterpretation led to almost all the cars entering the second warm-up lap early, forcing the stewards to allow a full formation lap for practical purposes, allowing the grid order to be maintained.
Different results for Tsunoda and Lawson: No penalty imposed
While Norris and Russell were fined, a similar investigation into the actions of Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson had a different outcome.
Despite initially being investigated for the same offence, the two Racing Bulls were ultimately not penalised. After reviewing video footage and consulting with team officials, the stewards determined that Tsunoda and Lawson were influenced by the drivers in front of them and were not primarily responsible for the infraction.
“Although the driver violated the rules, this was caused by the driver in front of him, so he was not primarily responsible for the violation,” read the stewards’ statement, absolving the pair of any blame. The decision underlines the stewards’ view that the ultimate responsibility lies with the leaders who initiated the false formation lap, thus avoiding sanctions for those who merely followed.
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Implications for the drivers and the McLaren team
For Norris, the penalty was a disheartening end to what he had hoped would be a race to shorten his championship gap to Verstappen. In a season already characterised by intense competition, such incidents show how every small decision on race day can affect the overall results and championship standings.
As the season draws to a close, it is likely that both Norris and Russell will be keen to avoid any further procedural errors, so that they can continue to concentrate on challenging for points and podium finishes. But let’s be honest, unless some serious poor luck befalls Max Verstappen, the attempt at a driver’s title for Norris looks bleak.
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Jos Verstappen was seen to slam his fist down in anger following the red flag dominated qualifying saga and with a total of five suspensions across all three sessions this became the most red flagged qualifying since this format was introduced almost two decades ago.
As qualifying two came to a conclusion, Lance Stroll hit the wall in turn three and found his car stranded just beyond the white lines at a high speed section of the track. Race control took over fifty seconds to throw the red flag by which time Max Verstappen had fallen from P10 to P12 as others were allowed to complete almost full laps.
Not for the first time this year, Verstappen Sr was visibly angry with the outcome as he turned in disbelief from the monitor slamming hist fist into a nearby tyre. To make maters worse his son’s closest rival for the F1 drivers’ title, Lando Norris went on to claim pole position ahead of George Russell…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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F1 stewardry make themselves more rediculous every race.
It is quit obvious Lando made a mistake by being too nervous to apply the starting rules.
Regardless of the cause he should be penalized for that.
The start procedure infringement falls in the same category as a false start or wrong grid placement. The latter are always penalised with a time penalty. Be it 5s or 10s.
The 5.000 euro fine is a laugh and the stewards all disqualify themselves by even stating that this decission can not be used as a precedent…
FIA should give these stewards a free gridwalk next race.. with peck and feathers…
They are ridiculous more than ever. Why it takes so long to give the wrong penalty? They wrote the rules but they are unable to read or understand the rules. Bunch of clown that are ruling a million dollar show.
So if Russel and Noris had driven head on into a wall at high speed, would everyone else have done the same?? They’ve all got brains. They’re not sheep..
It was aborted
Not abandoned
Sp UnK chucker Stroll beached his car afet skidding off
Who writes this rubbish?