NORRIS AND RUSSELL WERE PENALIZED FOR VIOLATING THE START PROCEDURE IN BRAZIL
Lando Norris and George Russell were given reproachment and €5,000 fine by the FIA for disrupting the Brazilian Grand Prix start procedure.McLaren driver Lando Norris and Mercedes driver George Russell were sentenced to reprimend and a fine of 5,000 euros at the Brazilian Grand Prix for violating the FIA’s start procedure.The race in Sao Paulo started in a complicated way. Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll slipped into the gravel as he entered the 4th turn in the formation lap, which required the restart of the race. This reset the initial procedure and there was a 10-minute delay for the teams to re-prepare the vehicles.Pilots were expected to return to the starting grid or stay in place when they saw the message that the start was canceled, but Norris in the pole position took off as soon as he saw the message on the starting table. With Norris’ move, the pilots behind him followed him, and Russell and RB pilots Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, who started in second place, also took off.
Some pilots applied the procedure correctly and remained in place, Max Verstappen, who was one of them and finally won the race, was surprised by what happened. In the end, each vehicle had to leave their places to catch up with the rest of the train.
The incident was investigated after the race so that the FIA commissioners could listen to the relevant teams, and late Sunday night, Norris and Russell were given a reprimandment and a fine of 5,000 euros for not following the correct procedures. Thus, Norris and Russell maintained the positions they completed the race.The decision for the two pilots was explained as follows: “The signal was given properly, the light panel was on as necessary, and the teams were informed by the message system, but the pilot thought he would leave the take-off line and make an additional round of formation.”
“According to the referees, the pilot triggered the pilots behind him to take a similar action.”
No further action was taken for Tsunoda and Lawson, because they reacted directly to Norris and Russell in front of them, and therefore “they were not predominantly responsible for the breach.”
