Lando Norris and George Russell each receive a fine of five thousand euros and a reprimand for their ‘false start’ during the São Paulo GP. Due to Lance Stroll’s retirement in the formation lap, the FIA postponed the start. However, polesitter Norris had other plans and began a new warm-up lap, with Russell following him.
After all the chaos in the formation lap, the race management postponed the start of the São Paulo GP by ten minutes. However, Lando Norris, who was on pole at Interlagos, drove an extra formation lap. George Russell, who was also allowed to park his car on the front row, followed him. This resulted in bizarre images! Half of the field followed the leaders onto the track, while the rest of the drivers – including Max Verstappen – patiently waited in their places.
Norris and Russell ‘Mainly Responsible’
Since Norris and Russell gave the signal for this extra warm-up lap, only they receive a fine. Verstappen’s main rival and his compatriot from Mercedes have to pay the FIA five thousand euros. In addition, they also receive a reprimand. Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were also called to the carpet, but they escaped punishment.
“While the signal for a restart was clear, the drivers (Norris and Russell) left the grid,” the FIA explained afterwards. “Since these drivers were on the front row, they encouraged the other drivers to take the same action.” Tsunoda and Lawson are not punished because they were ‘influenced by the cars in front of them.’ Therefore, they were not ‘mainly responsible’ for the violation.
