Norris and Russell penalties confirmed as FIA investigation into Brazil begins

The start of the Brazilian Grand Prix had an unconventional start due to a shortening of rain on Saturday and a qualifying/race double-header on Sunday – and the situation became even more chaotic in the formation lap.

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll crashed onto 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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However, 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.

After several hours of deliberation, the FIA ​​decided that no further action would be taken against Tsunoda or Lawson.

Lando Norris and George Russell, the two drivers in the front row, were fined €5,000 and given reprimands.

According to the stewards, the drivers at the front of the grid triggered other drivers to take action.

“The FIA ​​Formula 1 Racing Director initiated the Stopped Start procedure, which stipulates that drivers must not leave the grid,” the FIA ​​decision in Norris’ case reads.

“This message was necessary as a car was off the track requiring rescue at Turn 4 (STR). Although the signal was given appropriately as the light panel predicted and was notified by the teams’ messaging system, the driver left the grid and proceeded on what he thought was an extra formation lap.

“The fact that the driver was on the front row of the grid led to subsequent drivers taking similar actions.

“At one point the Race Director, realizing that for practical reasons all cars needed to do an extra formation lap, instructed the teams for all cars to proceed and return to the grid to follow the correct aborted start procedure.

“In the opinion of the stewards, driver NOR accelerated the drivers’ movements on the grid, right behind him.”

Russell was given almost the same decision.

For both Lawson and Tsunoda, the decision includes the following statements: “In the referees’ opinion, the driver violated the rule, this was under the influence of the driver in front of him and therefore he was not predominantly responsible for the violation. Therefore, the referees decided not to take any further action, considering that the driver was at fault right in front of him.” decided.”

All parties have the right to object to these decisions.

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