The difference between Lewis Hamilton’s penalty during the Qatar Grand Prix and the lack of a penalty for Lando Norris in Saudi Arabia is all about a nuance in the rules. At first glance, both situations seem identical, but the FIA has clear reasons why they were treated differently.
The Misstep of Hamilton in Qatar
In Losail, Hamilton was penalized for a false start. The Mercedes driver moved before the lights went out, but quickly came to a halt. The result? Loss of momentum and valuable positions at the start. Hamilton admitted after the race that he had made mistakes, including speeding in the pit lane. “This was not my best day,” said the seven-time world champion. “But I reached the finish line, and that’s what counts.” However, the penalty for his false start sparked much debate, as Norris was not penalized in a similar situation earlier this season.
What Happened with Norris in Saudi Arabia?
During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Lando Norris had a similar incident. He too moved in his starting box before the lights went out, stopped again, and lost momentum at the start. George Russel was quick to call out over the radio: “False start from Norris!” Yet, no penalty was given to the McLaren driver. But why?
The explanation lies in the technology. The FIA transponder, which detects a false start, was not activated for Norris. According to the rules at the time, a false start could only be determined if this transponder was activated. The stewards concluded then: “The transponder did not indicate a false start, so we took no action.”
After this situation, the rules were tightened. The current Formula 1 regulations state that a false start does not only depend on the transponder. If a driver moves after the lights have been on for four seconds, but before they go out, that is already enough for a penalty.
Although it may seem as if the FIA acted inconsistently here, the opposite is true. The situation with Norris in Saudi Arabia led to an improvement in the rules, so that such situations are now clearly and fairly assessed. The penalty for Hamilton was therefore completely in line with the current regulations.
