In Monaco, Lando Norris makes contact with the barrier.
Forced to pit late in Q1 having picked up what Andrea Stella revealed was a “few metres of advertising banners”, Lando Norris was lucky to progress in qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix.
According to his McLaren team boss, the loose advertising banners could potentially have a devastating impact on him and his chances in the upcoming Grand Prix. Therefore, he strongly believes that immediate action must be taken to prevent such a catastrophic outcome.
McLaren: It shouldn’t happen that the car is compromised by these kinds of problems
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper
Due to the unique characteristics of the Monte Carlo street circuit, which undergoes changes in track conditions and frequently experiences red flags, the drivers adopted a different approach for qualifying. Instead of the typical three-lap strategy of going out for a hot lap and returning to the pits, they opted to remain on the track during Q1, continuously completing laps.
Norris found himself in trouble when a swath of an advertising banner got caught under his McLaren MCL38, costing him “three seconds per lap”.
While his competitors relentlessly completed laps, he had no choice but to make a pit stop in order for McLaren to eliminate the banner.
As the drivers maneuvered around the Monte Carlo street circuit, brushing against the barriers, it was evident how they were dislodging the advertising attached to them.
Charles Leclerc, the favorite to secure pole position, was not the only driver affected by Norris. In Q1, Leclerc had a piece of plastic, possibly from the track-side advertising, stuck to his Ferrari’s front wing, causing him to lose pace.
Both drivers, once the unwanted debris was removed from their cars, progressed to Q3 where Leclerc claimed pole position with Norris P4.
On the other hand, Stella, his team boss, asserts that there could have been significant and potentially disastrous outcomes due to the failure to address an issue that should have been resolved earlier in the weekend.
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Stella, speaking to the media, including PlanetF1.com, expressed that the events of Q1 were unacceptable and fell below the expected standards of racing circuits.
The camera captured footage of several meters of advertising banners being caught under the car, resulting in a loss of downforce equivalent to a three-second-per-lap disadvantage for the car.
I must commend our team’s quick response in evaluating the situation. Despite being heavily pressed for time, we had experienced a significant decline in performance, necessitating a pit stop to avoid potential elimination. I highly value the operational efficiency we were able to exhibit.
However, it is unacceptable for the car to be affected by these persistent issues that have been present since Free Practice One. The problem of the banners coming off is not a sudden occurrence during qualifying; it has been a recurring problem in every session. It is crucial that we address and resolve this issue.
I believe that the impact of this situation on Lando’s performance has been quite disastrous. It is possible that Leclerc, as well as a few other drivers, have also been affected.
What will ultimately determine the outcome of the race? Is it the decision to remove the banners or not, or is it the performance of the drivers, the car, and the teams?
“Something needs to be done.”
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