MIAMI :Formula One drivers are always asking teams to give them the tools for success but champions McLaren went a step too far when they left two torches in Lando Norris’s car at the Miami Grand Prix on Friday.
“You’ve left so many tools in the cockpit. Everything is just falling apart,” the Briton exclaimed over the team radio as he went out for the sole practice session before sprint qualifying.
Last year’s race winner Norris pitted, tossing the offending items out of the cockpit.
“Just a little mistake there, a little silly, a little embarrassing but all good,” McLaren boss Zak Brown told Sky Sports television.
Stewards issued a warning to McLaren after summoning a team representative after the session.
“The team admitted in the hearing that they made a genuine mistake by leaving two torches/flashlights in the cockpit when releasing Car 4 from the garage,” the officials said in a statement.
“However, the driver realised directly after entering the track that some equipment was in the car and was able to secure both parts shortly after leaving the pit exit before returning slowly to the pits.”
Stewards determined the car was released in an unsafe condition but Norris’s quick reactions were taken into account in mitigation.
McLaren will be chasing their fifth win in six races on Sunday with Norris seeking to regain the overall lead from teammate Oscar Piastri.
