The FIA Drops the Hammer on McLaren: Shocking Verdict Revealed After Lando Norris Incident Rocks Miami Grand Prix
In a jaw-dropping turn of events at the Miami Grand Prix, the FIA has unleashed a bombshell verdict following the investigation into the bizarre incident involving Lando Norris and McLaren during FP1. Norris found himself in a surreal situation when he discovered tools and an LED torch in his cockpit during the session, prompting him to head to the pits to address the issue. However, McLaren was reprimanded by the FIA for releasing the car in an unsafe condition, potentially violating Article 34.14 c) of the sporting regulations, which could have resulted in a severe penalty like a grid drop.
The burning question on everyone’s mind was whether Norris would face repercussions at the Miami Grand Prix. While the rules left room for the stewards to mete out a penalty, they ultimately ruled it as a genuine mistake. Following the intense scrutiny post-FP1, the stewards have made a pivotal decision to issue an official warning to McLaren for the alarming incident. An official statement from the FIA emphasized McLaren’s acknowledgment of the blunder, stating, “The team admitted in the hearing that they made a genuine mistake by leaving two torches/flashlights in the cockpit when releasing Car 4 from the garage.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, the driver’s quick reflexes and prompt actions averted a potential disaster, with the stewards acknowledging Norris’s swift response in rectifying the error to prevent any unsafe scenarios. This crucial factor was taken into consideration as a mitigating circumstance, leading to a mere warning being issued to the team. As the Miami GP looms ahead, Norris finds himself trailing his teammate Oscar Piastri in the championship standings, with a tumultuous outing at the Saudi Arabian GP, where a qualifying crash relegated him to start from 10th on the grid, culminating in a commendable P4 finish.
In other F1 news, the absence of reigning champion Max Verstappen at the Miami Grand Prix made waves as he announced the joyous arrival of his baby girl, adding an emotional touch to an already electrifying race weekend.