Shanghai GP 2024: Here is why FIA reinstated deleted lap time of Lando Norris, check rules and details

The first sprint qualification race of the season Shanghai GP produced some amazing moments on Friday. Despite some rain and fire interruptions McLaren driver Lando Norris achieved the pole position by surpassing Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.

However, his victory was controversial as his initially deleted lap was reinstated. The FIA later clarified their decision to reinstate Lando Norris's lap time, affirming it was a fair performance given the circumstances.

With the track soaked and challenging, all drivers grappled with the switch to intermediate tyres. Despite the treacherous conditions leading to numerous off-track excursions, Lando Norris momentarily claimed pole position. However, his joy was as short-lived as his lap which was initially invalidated due to an off-track incident.

As is customary, the FIA invalidates laps when drivers exceed track limits, especially during final-corner incidents. This ensures fairness by nullifying any potential advantage from disregarding track boundaries to boost exit speed. However, in Norris's recent case, race control swiftly recognized that he hadn't exploited this situation for an advantage.

McLaren chief Andrea Stella explains the incident

McLaren chief Andrea Stella speaks about the incident calling it a fair lap. He said, "We think it might have been because in the last before he went off at the last corner and they might have thought in this case, having been off at the last corner, it might have implications for the following lap which is the pole lap.”

"That lap is completely clean, so there is no problem at all. It was reinstated by the FIA themselves. Because you go off at the last corner you go off at a much lower speed and effectively Lando loses almost three-tenths because he has been off at the previous last corner."

Norris finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. This will mark the British start of the Sprint race on Saturday in Shanghai. Red Bull’s Lewis Hamilton qualifies fourth in the provisional round.