McLaren have criticised the FIA for an “unnecessary” yellow flag that led to Lando Norris’ early qualifying exit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which could cost the British driver crucial championship ground.
Norris, trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points with just eight races remaining in 2024, looked set to safely progress from Q1 on Saturday before Esteban Ocon’s slow-moving Alpine in the final sector resulted in confusion and ultimately elimination for the McLaren star, who will start Sunday’s race way down in 17th.
The controversy occurred amid Ocon’s limp around the circuit after a clash with the barriers, with the trackside boards first flashing for Norris before Turn 16, where he then ran wide onto the kerbs.
Norris recovered and still would have had enough pace to make it to Q2 – his team insist around the third place his team-mate Oscar Piastri managed in the segment – before the boards then flashed yellow and then green around Turns 17 and 18, where Norris encountered the Alpine.
Norris, following the regulations, slowed before accelerating again, but then dove into the pits with his lap essentially ruined.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Lando Norris says he had to lift on his final flying lap because of a yellow flag following his shock Q1 exit but is still hopeful for a positive result tomorrow
“I had to lift,” stated a downbeat Norris, who initially said the situation was merely “unlucky”.
But McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was far firmer than that, insisting F1’s governing body didn’t follow the sport’s rules 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 told Sky Sports 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.
“Everyone tried their best I’m sure, this time there was a situation that ideally, and I think by the regulations, shouldn’t have happened. We paid the price.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Karun Chandhok takes a closer look at why Lando Norris missed out on Q2 during qualifying of the Azerbaijan GP
Stella was also adamant that the board was yellow, as opposed to white, which would not necessitate a driver to slow down and would often be displayed in this circumstance to indicate a slow-moving car on track.
“[The yellow flag] was displayed last minute and we checked right now in our tools, and it is actually displayed as a yellow,” he said.
Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok added: “It was just a case of wrong place, wrong time.”
More to follow.
Sky Sports F1’s live Azerbaijan GP schedule
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place around the Baku City Circuit
Sunday September 15
8.30am: F2 Feature Race
10:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: The AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction
3pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 leaves mainland Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime