FIA confirm huge McLaren fine hours after Lando Norris takes pole in Spanish GP qualifying

Lando Norris will go down in history as he is the first-ever driver to secure pole position at the Madring circuit in Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The British driver has put himself in the best place possible to add further history by becoming the first winner of the Spanish Grand Prix at this circuit due to this performance.

However, the celebrations of McLaren were cut short just hours after the confirmation of Norris as pole sitter on the grid for the Grand Prix as they were handed a fine for breaching the rules during qualifying.

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McLaren fined just hours after Lando Norris secures pole for Spanish Grand Prix

Norris secured pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix for the inaugural race at the Madring, clinching his 19th career pole position.

The British driver narrowly won this position as Kimi Antonelli came within a whisker of earning pole, but the Italian will have to settle for second on the grid, with Max Verstappen in third for the start of the Grand Prix.

Driver championship leader Antonelli will still be pleased that he is in a strong position going into the Grand Prix, as he is ahead of his two nearest title rivals, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who qualified in sixth and fourth, respectively.

Norris’ McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, did not have the best session as he could only finish seventh, and while this is not the end of the world, the team were then dealt another blow following qualifying.

McLaren were fined just hours after qualifying as Norris committed a minor pit-lane speeding breach in the early stages of qualifying in Madrid.

The British driver was clocked travelling at 88.5 kilometres per hour in Q1, 8.5km/h over the limit of 80km/h.

This has earned McLaren a €900 fine by FIA stewards over Norris’ speeding in the pit lane, but he is not set to be handed a further penalty and will start the Grand Prix in pole position.

The stewards’ report reads: “Car 1 exceeded the pit lane speed limit, which is set at 80 km/h for this event, by 8.5 km/h.”

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FIA investigate several drivers after the Spanish Grand Prix qualifying

Norris was not the only driver to be investigated by the FIA following the qualifying session, as several were deemed to have breached the rules.

Russell had been summoned to see the stewards after qualifying over an alleged failure to follow the race director’s instructions.

This related to rejoining the track from an escape road. Yet, following an investigation, the British driver was given a warning.

Antonelli was also handed a warning after he was also investigated by the FIA after qualifying at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Italian was deemed to have failed to adhere to the delta time requirements in qualifying, but he was only given a warning for this breach of the rules.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz was handed a three-place grid penalty after qualifying. He was investigated by the FIA after an impeding incident with Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas.

The stewards’ verdict read: “The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), the driver of Car 77 (Valtteri Bottas), team representatives and reviewed video, timing, team radio and in-car video evidence.

“The team failed to inform the driver of Car 55 about Car 77 closing in on a flying lap, and the driver did not take any action to make way for the incoming car.

“The Stewards determine that Car 55 unnecessarily impeded Car 77.”

Madrid-born Sainz did qualify 17^th, but once this punishment is implemented, he will start in 20^th for the Grand Prix.