Lando Norris, the Formula 1 title contender, is under investigation following a chaotic start to the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The race's commencement was aborted due to an incident involving Lance Stroll on the formation lap.
Stroll, who had already faced difficulties in qualifying, spun out at Turn 4 and beached his Aston Martin in the gravel whilst attempting to recover.
This prompted race officials to halt the start, with the other 18 cars waiting on the grid.
Amidst the confusion, Norris set off from pole position before receiving the green light, triggering an investigation by the stewards.
Stroll's mishap occurred at the Descida Do Lago right-hander, where he tapped the barrier with his front wing.
Lando Norris is under investigation after a chaotic start at the Brazilian GP
Reuters
His attempt to rejoin the track from the escape road resulted in his car becoming stranded in the gravel.
This led to an unusual situation on the grid, with most drivers following Norris's lead and setting off, while others, including points leader Max Verstappen, remained stationary.
The race director had intended for all drivers to stay in place until given the signal to move. This confusion set the stage for Norris's procedural error and subsequent investigation.
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Norris's premature departure from the grid constituted a clear breach of procedure.
The race director promptly noted this action, leading to an official investigation by the Brazilian Grand Prix stewards.
This incident could have significant implications for Norris's title aspirations, as he entered the race 44 points behind rival Verstappen.
The investigation adds an extra layer of tension to an already pivotal race for Norris, especially considering Verstappen's lower starting position of 17th (effectively 15th after Albon's withdrawal and Stroll's incident).
The outcome of the investigation could potentially impact Norris's race strategy and championship standings.
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George Russell takes the lead from Lando Norris! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BzypovHTBC
Following the aborted start, a new formation lap and starting procedure were scheduled for approximately 10 minutes later, at 12:47pm local time.
This delay added to the already tense atmosphere at Interlagos, where earlier rain had forced a postponed qualifying session to Sunday morning.
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Lando Norris was overtaken by George Russell
Reuters
The rescheduled qualifying had seen a record five red flags and damage to five cars, including Stroll's Aston Martin.
With Norris on pole and Verstappen starting from the back of the grid, the race promised to be a crucial one in their ongoing title battle, now further complicated by Norris's pre-race investigation.
