Lando Norris involved in second investigation after pr...

Lando Norris Faces Two Stewards Investigations After Chaotic Practice Session in Miami

Lando Norris experienced a turbulent start to his Miami Grand Prix weekend, becoming the subject of two separate investigations by the race stewards following a dramatic and disjointed free practice session. The single practice session held before the Sprint qualifying on Friday delivered plenty of talking points, particularly surrounding the McLaren driver, who found himself at the center of two notable incidents.

The first of these incidents occurred early in the session, when Norris encountered Esteban Ocon’s Alpine at Turn 17. Ocon was moving slowly on the racing line, seemingly unaware of Norris approaching at a much faster speed. The situation escalated quickly into a near-disaster, as Norris was forced into evasive action to avoid a high-speed collision. The two came alarmingly close to contact, sparking concern over the dangerous nature of the moment.

Race stewards quickly took note of the incident and launched an official investigation, with early indications suggesting that Ocon was likely to be held responsible. Given the way he impeded Norris on a fast lap while cruising slowly near a braking zone, Ocon could be in breach of the sporting regulations regarding impeding or driving in an unsafe manner. The stewards are expected to review telemetry, onboard footage, and team radio communications before making a final decision.

This wasn’t the only issue for Norris, who found his session further disrupted by an unusual problem within the cockpit of his McLaren. As the session got underway, Norris reported the presence of several tools left inside the cockpit, potentially compromising his ability to drive safely. These items should have been cleared before the car was released onto the track, raising concerns about McLaren’s procedural oversight in preparing the car.

As a result, Norris is now under investigation for a possible violation of Article 34.14 (c) of the FIA Sporting Regulations. This clause relates to the “unsafe release” of a car from the garage or pit lane. In this context, it specifically pertains to the fact that his car was not in a fully safe condition when it was sent out for practice, due to the presence of foreign objects in the cockpit. While Norris himself is unlikely to be held accountable, the McLaren team could face a reprimand or fine depending on the outcome of the stewards’ review.

Despite these disruptions, Norris managed to complete several laps and gather some useful data in the limited practice time available. However, the chaotic session has undoubtedly added pressure ahead of qualifying and the Sprint race.

The outcome of both investigations could impact not just Norris’s weekend, but also set precedents for how similar incidents are handled in the future, particularly concerning cockpit safety and the behavior of slower-moving cars on hot laps. The stewards’ decisions are expected to be announced later today.