The FIA stewards for Formula 1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix noted that the transponder fitted to Lando Norris’ car didn’t note a jump-start and thus no penalty was issued.
The McLaren was visibly noted to have moved early from his box before stopping at lights out, with George Russell among others expecting the jump start to be noted and penalised.
However, surprisingly no penalty was forthcoming and the FIA stewards released a statement outlining the decision.
“The stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and determined that the video appeared to show that car 4 moved before the start signal was given,” it said.
“However, the FIA approved and supplied transponder fitted on the car did not indicate a jump start.
“Article 48.1 a) of the Formula One Sporting Regulations states clearly that the judgment of whether or not there was a jump start is to be made in accordance with the transponder, which did not show a jump start.
“In the circumstances, we took no further action.”
Norris was unsure why the mistake on his end occurred when asked post-race.
“I’ve never done this before in my life, so I don’t know why I did it today,” the McLaren driver said.
“Things happen so quickly, like it was pure instinct, not a reaction, not an input.
“You know, in these times you’re just reacting to something and I don’t know if I’ve seen another light. There are so many lights here.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen something and my body’s just reacted to it.
“But you’re just so pumped on adrenaline and everything. You’re just reacting to anything.
“If I’ve just seen something go off or another light come on or something, I’ve just gone on that.
“But I got it stopped and there’s been plenty of other examples of when people have gone and stopped and there’s never been a penalty.”
Norris ultimately converted a sixth-place starting spot into an eighth-place finish.
Electing to stay out during the early Safety Car and having briefly led the McLaren driver had to serve a mandatory pit stop late on for a short stint on the soft tyre.
However, after emerging in eighth place, the pace advantage gained from the soft Pirelli rubber soon peaked and he was unable to progress further.
However, was pleased his team made a strategic roll of the dice, citing that there had been occasions in the past when McLaren hadn’t been “aggressive enough”.
“We wanted to try something different and not just stay behind,” he said.
“We could have gained a lot of points or we could have lost a few. In the end we lost a few, but that’s just the way it is sometimes.
“It was a good try and I think it was the correct call to make.
“Sometimes I feel like we’re a little bit safe and it’s nice to be a little bit more aggressive, try something different. I’m happy with our decision.
“It wasn’t the best one, I wouldn’t say the correct one, but that’s the hindsight. So I’m happy with how we tried to execute it all.”
