Lando Norris’ Jumpstart at Jeddah Gets Questioned as FIA’s Controversial Decision Comes Under the Scanner

In the Grand Prix, F1 drivers demonstrate remarkable reaction times, finely tuned through training to an average of 0.200 seconds or less. As the lights signal the race’s start, their lightning-quick reflexes propel them into action with unparalleled speed. Despite their precise reaction times, F1 drivers sometimes jump the start, accelerating prematurely. This mistake, known as a “jumpstart,” highlights the immense pressure and split-second decisions inherent in high-speed racing.

Likewise, a notable moment occurred during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as various camera angles seemingly captured Lando Norris potentially jumpstarting. Despite this, to the surprise of many, the McLaren driver escaped penalization from the FIA stewards. Naturally, many questioned why he was spared.

FIA reveals the real reason behind its lenience

The FIA stewards clarified why the McLaren driver escaped the penalty for jumpstarting in the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Norris was positioned 6th on the grid; he inched forward before the lights went out, releasing the clutch prematurely. Nevertheless, he promptly halted within his grid box before the start signal. George Russell, positioned in 7th place, immediately alerted Mercedes via radio. With everyone in the Grand Prix anticipating the Belgian racer penalty, stewards were on the brink of taking action. Meanwhile, it turned out that Norris’s movement hadn’t triggered the FIA transponder, thwarting any immediate action.

Surprisingly, Sergio Perez, who made the same mistake, went unnoticed, too, with a rolling jump start that gave him a boost P2.

In Jolyon Palmer‘s latest F1TV analysis, it was revealed that the Red Bull racer engaged first gear as the first red light appeared and that he kept rolling forward within his grid box before the lights went out. “He’s actually rolling forward which you are not allowed to do. You have to be stationary and then Checo gets a great launch. That, in theory, is also a jumpstart from Perez which went unnoticed, though it was within FIA tolerance. In lower levels, you’ll have a marshall standing on the track, and they’ll spot a car moving and he might get done for that. Strange in Formula 1 that you can have a car rolling forward, getting that inertia rolling before you drop the clutch,” Palmer said. However, that’s not the end as, based on F1TV footage, a rival team filed a complaint against Sergio Perez, hinting that he may soon face inquiries from the FIA.

Saudi Arabian GP penalty brought Sergio Perez little close to race ban

Sergio is skating on thin ice, with eight penalty points looming over him. An F1 driver is permitted a maximum of 12 points annually, and exceeding this threshold sidelines them for one race. In a pit lane scenario, Checo impulsively drove off upon glimpsing an empty mirror despite being instructed to wait.

Meanwhile, as Fernando Alonso approached his pit box, he braked abruptly to avoid a collision, resulting in a 5-second penalty for the Red Bull driver. Later, he admitted his mistake but received one more penalty point on his super license, bringing him within 4 points away from activation. With 15 races remaining, Mexican racer must exercise greater caution to avoid further penalties.

Read More: Max Verstappen Stealing Sergio Perez’s Only Advantage Gets Revealed as Cause for the Mexican’s Downfall

Amidst speculation, how will Sergio Perez handle the tightrope of penalty points in the upcoming races, considering the lengthy journey ahead?