Gasly Questions FIA Stewards' Decision on Norris Incident in Singapore GP
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly has openly questioned the Formula 1 stewards' decision to not penalize Lando Norris following a collision with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri during the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race. The incident, where Norris's aggressive move resulted in contact and Piastri's retirement, was controversially classified as a mere 'racing incident', sparking debate about the consistency of stewarding in F1.
The situation draws parallels with a previous event in Baku, where Gasly's own teammate, Franco Colapinto, received a grid penalty for a collision that was considered less severe. Gasly highlighted the disparity, noting that he would have gained a point had Norris been penalized. The stewards' varied rulings on similar on-track incidents have long been a point of contention among drivers and teams, leading to calls for greater clarity and uniformity in applying racing regulations.
During the Singapore Grand Prix sprint, as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc began to struggle with tire degradation, Lando Norris attempted an audacious overtake on his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri into Turn 5. Norris committed to the inside line, leading to a collision that sent Piastri into the barriers. Although Norris managed to continue and finish eighth, the incident immediately prompted a stewards' investigation. However, much to the surprise of many, including Gasly, the stewards concluded it was a 'racing incident' and imposed no penalties.
This decision starkly contrasts with an earlier event in Baku involving Franco Colapinto, Gasly's teammate. Colapinto, during a safety car restart, locked up his brakes and made contact with Gasly, who then hit Norris. This chain reaction forced both Alpine cars out of scoring positions, and Colapinto was subsequently penalized for 'causing a collision,' resulting in a grid drop for the next race. Despite Alpine boss Flavio Briatore's initial anger, data analysis later showed Colapinto had only braked marginally harder than usual.
Further complicating the issue of consistency, another incident at the same Baku safety car restart saw Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad collide while trying to navigate around Esteban Ocon's Haas. Lindblad's car made contact with Lawson's, damaging the latter's floor. Yet, the stewards decided not to penalize Lindblad, attributing the collision to 'restricted space available' and a 'chain reaction' from an incident ahead. This ruling left Lawson frustrated, as he felt his teammate should have been held accountable for the damage caused.
The stewards' official explanation for the Norris-Piastri incident stated that both drivers contributed to the collision, with neither being 'wholly or predominantly to blame.' This assessment concluded with no further action taken. Gasly, whose team would have benefited from a penalty against Norris, openly expressed his dissatisfaction with this outcome, particularly given the previous penalties issued for what appeared to be comparable, if not less impactful, incidents. He emphasized the ongoing discussions needed with stewards regarding such judgments, aiming for more predictable and equitable enforcement of racing rules.