Starting from his sixth-placed grid position, Lando Norris experienced a momentary jolt forward just before the five red lights extinguished, a premature release of the clutch causing the motion. However, he quickly halted back into his designated grid box as the start signal approached.
Mercedes’ George Russell, positioned beside Norris in seventh, promptly alerted their team via radio about Norris’ movement.
Anticipating a penalty for the early movement, it was surprising when the stewards opted not to take any action. Investigation revealed that Norris’ slight advancement hadn’t triggered the FIA’s transponder, leading to the decision in his favor.
The stewards clarified their decision, emphasizing that the transponder data is the sole determinant for identifying a jump start. As Norris’ movement fell within permissible limits and the transponder didn’t indicate any violation, he escaped consequences.
In their statement, the stewards cited the Formula One Sporting Regulations, highlighting the reliance on the transponder for assessing jump starts.
Norris, when questioned about the incident by Sky Sports F1, expressed his uncertainty, stating the quick sequence of events. He admitted to a brief movement followed by an attempt to stop, ultimately gaining no advantage.
This incident finds precedence in previous instances, notably with Valtteri Bottas in the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix and Sebastian Vettel in Japan a year earlier, where similar movements were overlooked.
Despite the early hiccup, Norris finished eighth in the race. Opting to remain on track during an early safety car period and adopting a split strategy with teammate Oscar Piastri didn’t yield the desired outcome.
