McLaren have criticised the FIA for an “unnecessary” yellow flag that led to Lando Norris’ early qualifying exit on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which may price the British driver essential championship floor.
Norris, trailing Max Verstappen by 62 factors with simply eight races remaining in 2024, seemed set to securely progress from Q1 on Saturday earlier than Esteban Ocon’s slow-moving Alpine within the closing sector resulted in confusion and in the end elimination for the McLaren star, who will begin Sunday’s race method down in seventeenth.
The controversy occurred amid Ocon’s limp across the circuit after a conflict with the boundaries, 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 group 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 basically ruined.
“I had to lift,” acknowledged a downbeat Norris, who initially stated the state of affairs was merely “unlucky”.
However McLaren group 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 informed 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 believe by the laws, should not have occurred. We paid the value.”
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Karun Chandhok takes a more in-depth have 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.”
Norris 11 locations behind Verstappen: Can he get better?
If there was one minor constructive for Norris on Sunday, it was that title rival Verstappen managed solely sixth come the top of qualifying, which implies he has – albeit a a lot simpler one than Lando – a restoration job of his personal come Sunday if he’s to battle for the win.
Whereas Norris was cautious in regards to the overtaking prospects on Sunday with the difficulties following across the high-speed however slim avenue circuit, he stated: “There’s a long race ahead.
“We’ve some good tyres within the financial institution, I am nonetheless hopeful we will get a very good outcome. I believe the automotive is fast.”
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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc takes an excellent fourth Azerbaijan pole in a row, beating Oscar Piastri by three tenths with Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen down in sixth!
Stella continued: “We will do our best to get back into the points and minimise the impact.
“We do not quit. We transfer on. We’ll do our greatest tomorrow to get some good factors.”
The key constructive for McLaren, in the meantime, got here by way of Piastri as the opposite McLaren break up the Ferraris and completed second in qualifying, with the Crimson Bulls solely fourth and sixth.
McLaren have a good higher likelihood of reeling in Crimson Bull on the subject of the constructors’ title, simply eight factors adrift.
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay 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 stay on Sky Sports activities Predominant Occasion
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