Lance Stroll collided with Lando Norris’ vehicle, resulting in the McLaren driver spinning off into the designated area.
McLaren and Norris had a satisfactory start to the 2024 season. The team based in Woking had high hopes for the event. They were expected to be very close to Ferrari in terms of race pace. Unfortunately, Norris missed the chance to score some points in the sprint race due to Aston Martin’s actions.
During the sprint race, the McLaren driver started from P9, positioned behind the two Aston Martin cars. Norris had a good start as soon as the five red lights went out. The British driver tried to overtake on the outside of Stroll and his teammate. However, Stroll collided with Norris, causing the MCL38 to spin out and retire from the race.
Lando Norris’ car stopped in the designated area. The McLaren driver had no choice but to abandon the vehicle, as his chances of scoring points disappeared. On the other hand, Lance Stroll returned to the pits to retire his AMR24 due to the damage caused in the incident.
Norris got out of the MCL38 and returned to the pits. It is worth noting that the Safety Car had been deployed after Norris’ retirement. However, the FIA expressed dissatisfaction with the British driver’s decision to walk on the track during the session. As a result, race control will be investigating this choice.
The British driver hopes to put this incident behind him before Qualifying. Norris’ teammate finished the sprint race in P6, securing two points for McLaren. However, the Woking team will be focused on repairing Norris’ car before the next session, which will take place in a few hours.
Undoubtedly, Lando Norris and McLaren suffered a setback. However, Norris showed promising speed. As a result, the British team can anticipate a top-six qualifying for the main race. However, there is no doubt that the main race on Sunday will be highly competitive.