McLaren have criticised the FIA for an “unnecessary” yellow flag that led to Lando Norris’ early qualifying exit on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which might value the British driver essential championship floor.
Norris, trailing Max Verstappen by 62 factors with simply eight races remaining in 2024, appeared set to securely progress from Q1 on Saturday earlier than Esteban Ocon’s slow-moving Alpine within the closing sector resulted in confusion and finally elimination for the McLaren star, who will begin Sunday’s race manner down in seventeenth.
The controversy occurred amid Ocon’s limp across the circuit after a conflict with the obstacles, with the trackside boards first flashing for Norris earlier than Flip 16, the place he then ran large onto the kerbs.
Norris recovered and nonetheless would have had sufficient tempo to make it to Q2 – his staff insist across the third place his team-mate Oscar Piastri managed within the section – earlier than the boards then flashed yellow after which inexperienced round Turns 17 and 18, the place Norris encountered the Alpine.
Norris, following the laws, slowed earlier than accelerating once more, however then dove into the pits along with his lap primarily ruined.
“I had to lift,” acknowledged a downbeat Norris, who initially stated the state of affairs was merely “unlucky”.
However McLaren staff principal Andrea Stella was far firmer than that, insisting F1’s governing physique did not observe the game’s guidelines with their yellow-flag operation.
“We were discussing with the FIA as to why a yellow flag was displayed at that moment in time, which was extremely costly,” Stella instructed Sky Sports activities F1’s Ted Kravitz in Baku.
“We were in conversations with the FIA as to why that happened because the yellow flag isn’t necessary when a car is just a slow car, it is not on a flying lap.
“Everybody tried their finest I am positive, this time there was a state of affairs that ideally, and I feel by the laws, should not have occurred. We paid the value.”
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Karun Chandhok takes a more in-depth take a look at why Lando Norris missed out on Q2 throughout qualifying of the Azerbaijan GP
Stella was additionally adamant that the board was yellow, versus white, which might not necessitate a driver to decelerate and would usually be displayed on this circumstance to point a slow-moving automotive on monitor.
“[The yellow flag] was displayed last minute and we checked right now in our tools, and it is actually displayed as a yellow,” he stated.
Sky Sports activities F1’s Karun Chandhok added: “It was just a case of wrong place, wrong time.”
Extra to observe.
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Azerbaijan GP schedule
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Look again at among the most dramatic moments to have taken place across the Baku Metropolis Circuit
Sunday September 15
8.30am: F2 Function Race
10:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: The AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP response
3pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion
Formulation 1 leaves mainland Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
