Andrea Stella urged the FIA to take context into account when making decisions after Lando Norris was handed a drive-through penalty at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, a penalty that ultimately cost McLaren the constructors’ championship. The controversy unfolded on Lap 30 when Race Control briefly waved a double yellow flag due to a loose wing mirror on the Losail Circuit. Norris, in the middle of a pursuit of Max Verstappen, encountered the flag while traveling at full speed, even though the track was clear of any immediate danger. Verstappen had already slowed down, and there were no cars in jeopardy at that moment.
Nevertheless, Norris was penalized, which dropped him from second place to the back of the field. Despite his efforts, he managed to finish 10th and secure two points, along with the fastest lap. McLaren expressed their dissatisfaction, arguing that the penalty was disproportionate to the situation. Stella voiced strong criticism of the FIA’s decision-making, calling for a more context-driven approach to penalties.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Stella stated, “The application of the penalty lacked proportion and consideration for the specifics of the situation. We need to assess the level of danger involved and the context surrounding the incident. The yellow flag was removed, yet the penalty was still applied without any real critical analysis, just a rigid interpretation of the rulebook.”
Stella also raised concerns about the FIA’s uncertainty over how to handle the debris. Race Director Rui Marques appeared hesitant to deploy a safety car, whether full or virtual, or to simply leave the situation as it was, since the debris was off the racing line. It was only after two cars suffered punctures that the issue was finally addressed. “The yellow flag was shown and then retracted, but the situation on track remained unchanged,” Stella explained. “It’s an unfortunate and unclear decision-making process.”
