Lando Norris, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were under investigation for leaving the grid in a context where the aborted start signal had been given.
In the end, only the drivers present on the front line, Norris and Russell, received a fine of 5,000 euros, as well as a reprimand.
The commissioners’ explanation
The commissioners thus explained their decision concerning the cases of Lando Norris, first on the grid, and George Russell, second.
“The FIA Formula 1 race director initiated the aborted start procedure indicating that drivers should not leave the starting grid,” explained the commissioners. “This message was necessary because a car went off the track in turn 4 [Lance Stroll] and must have gone off the track.”
“Although the signal was given appropriately, the light panel came on as expected and the teams were informed via the messaging system, the driver left the grid and began a lap he assumed be an additional training round.”
“As the driver was on the first row of the grid, the following drivers did the same. At one point the race director, realizing that for practical reasons all cars would now have to do an additional formation lap, gave an instruction to the teams for all cars to continue and return to the grid to follow the procedure correct aborted departure.”
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Tsunoda et Lawson “influenced” par Norris et Russell
The commissioners thus judged that Norris and Russell had “rushed the action of the drivers who were on the grid directly behind” them.
This is why Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were not sanctioned, even though they “violates the rules.” It was, in fact, judged that each of the two VCARB pilots was “influenced by the pilot who preceded him”and therefore “is not primarily responsible for the infringement”. According to the commissioners, the drivers “at fault” were therefore those on the front line.
An important decision since all four drivers finished in the points. George Russell (P4), Lando Norris (P6), Yuki Tsunoda (P7) and Liam Lawson (P9) therefore retain their position and the points that go with it.
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