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Norris, Russell, Tsunoda and Lawson face FIA investigation for Brazilian GP aborted start

Lando Norris has found himself at the centre of an FIA investigation following an alleged infringement of the starting procedure at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver had got away as normal on the formation lap but plans for the original start had to be aborted after Lance Stroll crashed out at Turn 4.

With Stroll’s Aston Martin beached in the gravel, the FIA elected to abort the start just as the cars formed up on the grid.

When the ‘aborted start’ message was displayed, Norris immediately set off again to complete an extra formation lap – which is a breach of the regulations.

Along with Norris, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were all placed under investigation for the same infringement.

Article 47. 1 of F1’s Sporting Regulations states that: “If the formation lap has started, and the Race Director decides the start should be aborted, the abort lights will be switched on, a board saying “ABORTED START” will be displayed, all cars should return to the grid and all Competitors will be informed of the likely delay using the official messaging system.

“The starting procedure will begin again at the ten (10) minute signal. Every time this happens the sprint session or the race will be shortened by one (1) lap.”

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38 (Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images)

Norris should have stayed stationary on the grid and awaited a proper restart, rather than going for an extra formation lap.

A number of other drivers, including Norris’ championship rival Max Verstappen, initially stayed on the grid as the rules dictate – before eventually getting going again.

The FIA made an immediate notification that Norris was being investigated for his breach, with the other three drivers then also investigated.

During the Brazilian GP, which got going once the aborted start procedure was completed, the FIA stewards announced the incident would be investigated after the race for Norris, Russell, Tsunoda and Lawson.

Russell and team-mate Lewis Hamilton are also being investigated by the stewards for an alleged tyre infringement on the grid when the tyres pressures were adjusted when already fitted to the car.

Photos from Brazilian GP Qualifying & Race

Race winner Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15
Christian Horner, Team Principal Red Bull Racing
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team
Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull Racing Principal Strategy Engineer
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, crashes out
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, celebrates after Qualifying
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team
Fans of Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in a grandstand
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, celebrates in Parc Ferme
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team
Lewis Hamilton drives Ayrton Senna's McLaren MP4/5B
Lewis Hamilton in the cockpit of the McLaren MP4/5B, with Viviane Senna, sister of Ayrton Senna, holding her brothers helmet
Lewis Hamilton drives Ayrton Senna's McLaren MP4/5B
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, on the grid
Oliver Bearman, Haas VF-24, arrives on the grid
Rubens Barrichello on the grid
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Christian Horner, Team Principal Red Bull Racing, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula One Group
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, in the cockpit
Marshals lift Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, out of the gravel as Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, passes
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01, Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01, the rest of the field at the start
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Franco Colapinto, Williams FW46, the remainder of the field on the opening lap
Oliver Bearman, Haas VF-24, battles with Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, sprays mud as he tries to rejoin after a spin
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, battles with Oliver Bearman, Haas VF-24
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Liam Lawson, RB F1 Team VCARB 01
Oliver Bearman, Haas VF-24, spins in front of Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, makes a pit stop
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, battles with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, makes a pit stop
Marshals push Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24, back on track
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Race winner Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, celebrates on the podium
Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team, 2nd position, Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team, 3rd position, lift the trophy in celebration
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team, 3rd position, Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team, 2nd position, on the podium
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, celebrates on the podium
Pierre Wache, Technical Director Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team, 2nd position, celebrates with his trophy on the podium
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Wache, Technical Director Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team, 2nd position, Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team, 3rd position, on the podium
Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Esteban Ocon, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Fans of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Fan of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing with a tattoo
Esteban Ocon, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing celebrates with team members
Esteban Ocon, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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