Multiple drivers are under FIA investigation for rules breaches following confusion caused by stroke incident

The start of the Brazilian Grand Prix had an unconventional start, with rain shortening Saturday and Sunday’s qualifying/race double-header – and the situation became even more chaotic in the formation lap.

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll crashed into the gravel on the formation lap, forcing the start to be abandoned – and a procedural blunder that saw pole sitter Lando Norris under investigation before he had even completed a single lap came back with a fury.

Multiple drivers under investigation after Brazilian GP formation lap chaos

Heavy rain at Interlagos on Saturday afternoon postponed Formula 1 Grand Prix qualifying until Sunday morning. Humid conditions on Sunday morning brought out a record five red flags across three qualifying sessions, with five cars damaged in the process.

Four of the five damaged cars were repaired at the start of the race, and one of these machines (Lance Stroll’s machine No. 18) lost control of his Aston Martin on the formation lap.

Stroll tried to turn back from the tarmac and return to the track but ended up on the gravel instead. He had to get out of his car and the start was cancelled.

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>But the canceled start caught out Lando Norris, who won pole position.

The McLaren driver and a handful of other drivers, including George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda, took off when the yellow lights went out. Negative when the green light comes on.

Many drivers remained stationary on the grid, aware that the aborted starting procedure did not allow them to take an additional formation lap.

Norris is currently under investigation for violating the starting procedure and faces a penalty before the start of the race. A penalty here will be absolutely critical for the title fight, as the gap between leader Max Verstappen and Norris has narrowed to just 44 points.

Shortly after the start of the race, George Russell, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda were also noted for starting procedure violations, and all four were scheduled to be investigated after the race.

This is an ongoing story.

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