The Brazilian Grand Prix witnessed a chaotic beginning as McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell faced penalties for breaching the FIA’s start procedure. The duo received reprimands and were fined 5,000 euros each following the incident during the formation lap that led to a delayed start.
Formation Lap Chaos
The race at São Paulo descended into confusion when Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll spun off into the gravel at Turn 4 during the formation lap. The incident triggered an aborted start, compelling a 10-minute delay as teams prepared their cars once more.
Confusion on the Grid
With the aborted start message displayed, the expectation was for drivers to remain on the starting grid. However, pole-sitter Lando Norris inadvertently launched off the grid as the message blazed, setting off a chain reaction among drivers directly behind him. George Russell, along with RB drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, followed suit by leaving the grid.
Mixed Reactions From Drivers
While some drivers like Max Verstappen abided by the procedure and stayed stationary, confusion was palpable among others. Eventually, all cars vacated the grid to rejoin the rest of the field, contributing to the ensuing drama.
Steward’s Decision
The FIA stewards conducted an investigation post-race, involving the teams concerned. As a result, Norris and Russell, the front row starters, were fined and reprimanded for instigating the disruption by failing to adhere to the procedure. Despite the penalties, both drivers retained their finishing positions—Norris in sixth place and Russell in fourth.
