An investigation into pole-sitter Lando Norris’s choice to start a second formation lap after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix’s start was aborted led to fines for both him and George Russell, alongside penalties for other drivers and teams.
After a dramatic race, there was lingering uncertainty about whether the results might shift due to a start procedure infraction involving the McLaren and Mercedes drivers.
Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin became stuck in the gravel during the formation lap, prompting race control to announce an aborted start.
However, after Norris returned to the grid, he led the field on an additional lap even though no green light was shown, signaling the start was not yet authorized.
After the race concluded, officials investigated the incident, ultimately fining Norris €5,000 and issuing a reprimand. Drivers are allowed four reprimands in a season before a fifth incurs a 10-place grid penalty.
In a document concerning both Russell and Norris, the stewards explained: “Although the signal was appropriately given [with] the light panel illuminated as prescribed, and the teams notified by the messaging system, the driver left the grid and proceeded on a lap that he assumed to be an extra formation lap.
“As the driver was on the front row of the grid this triggered following drivers to take similar action.
At some point the Race Director, realising that for practical reasons all cars would now need to do an extra formation lap, gave an instruction to the teams for all cars to proceed and return to the grid to follow the correct aborted start procedure.”
The stewards noted that Norris “precipitated the action of the drivers on the grid directly behind him,” affecting the race start procedure for others.
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, however, avoided fines as their actions were attributed to influence from the drivers in front.
The Mercedes team was additionally penalized with a €10,000 fine—€5,000 for each of Russell and Lewis Hamilton’s cars—after the team reduced tire pressure on the grid while waiting for the race’s delayed start.
The stewards explained: “Given the layout of the circuit and the access point to the grid from the pit lane, the time period for the team to get to the grid was extended.
The gate to access the grid was not immediately opened. The FIA accepted that given this short notice, it was extremely difficult if not impossible for the teams to follow the procedure prescribed in the technical directive.
“Given the unusual circumstances surrounding the compressed time table, aborted start, the grid access logistics and given the stipulation from the Technical Delegate that the tyre pressures were within the correct parameters, the stewards determine that a fine for a breach of procedure is appropriate in this case.
“Normally a breach of this nature, within a competitive session, would carry a sporting penalty but it is not appropriate in this case.
However, this decision should not be considered as a precedent for any similar breach in the future as the circumstances are considered unique.”
In a final post-race decision, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz received a reprimand for unsafe driving.
After he spun out and crashed into a barrier, he initially removed his steering wheel but quickly replaced it when the team assessed that he could potentially drive back to the pits.
However, marshals had already started to recover his car by the time he attempted to continue.
According to the stewards, Sainz “accepted that removing the steering wheel was a clear indication of his intention to abandon the car,” but this led to “a potentially dangerous situation” that “was avoidable by the driver solely,” resulting in a reprimand.
Despite these decisions, the race classification remained unchanged, with Russell finishing in P4, Norris in P6, and Hamilton securing a single point in P10.
