FIA steps in after McLaren’s pre-session setback at the Qatar Grand Prix
McLaren narrowly avoided any form of disciplinary action at the Qatar Grand Prix after a procedural hiccup forced them to request a special exemption from the FIA’s technical department. The situation unfolded before Friday’s running at the Lusail International Circuit, when McLaren found themselves unable to meet one of the FIA’s mandatory pre-weekend requirements due to ongoing checks on both of their cars.
Before every race weekend officially begins, Formula 1 teams must present at least one of their cars for a designated display period in front of the garages. This procedure allows the FIA and the public to visually inspect the car’s configuration before it takes to the track. However, ahead of the first practice session in Qatar, McLaren were forced to keep both of their papaya-coloured machines inside the garage for longer than expected. Team personnel were still performing evaluations, particularly on Lando Norris’ car, and could not meet the scheduled deadline.
Rather than forcing the team to rush the process or risk breaching regulations, the FIA technical delegate, Jo Bauer, reviewed McLaren’s situation and granted the team permission to delay their participation in the display protocol. This exemption ensured they would not face a penalty or reprimand for missing the initial window.
A harmless but time-consuming issue
According to McLaren, the holdup stemmed from a routine issue that required extra inspection but posed no real danger to the functionality or legality of the car. The team downplayed any concerns by describing the matter as “nothing to worry about,” although they still needed sufficient time to conduct non-destructive testing on several components. These checks, often performed using scanning or imaging tools, allow teams to assess structural integrity without dismantling or damaging parts.
One of the two McLaren cars eventually made it out for the display period once the team completed the necessary evaluations. This partial compliance, paired with the FIA’s approved delay, ensured McLaren satisfied the rule with minimal disruption.
Strong performance reinforces that all is well
Any lingering speculation about the seriousness of the issue was put to rest once the cars hit the track for FP1. Both McLaren drivers delivered a commanding start to the Qatar weekend, with Oscar Piastri setting the fastest time and Lando Norris closely behind in second. Their strong one-two finish in practice demonstrated that neither car was suffering from underlying problems following the morning inspections.
The performance was a timely reassurance—not only to fans, but also to the FIA—that McLaren’s last-minute checks were precautionary rather than indicative of deeper mechanical faults.
Ted Kravitz sheds light on the situation
Sky Sports F1’s pitlane reporter, Ted Kravitz, provided more context while broadcasting live from the Lusail pitlane. He explained that the failure to present a car for display was technically a violation of FIA regulations, as all teams must participate in what is formally called the “car display procedure” ahead of the first practice session.
Kravitz noted that McLaren were experiencing “issues with both of their cars,” prompting them to request additional time. Although details were initially scarce, Kravitz later confirmed that the FIA approved their request, allowing them to complete their inspections before rolling one of the cars out.
Kravitz added that he had observed McLaren performing “non-destructive testing on all the surfaces of Lando Norris’s car,” suggesting the team was being unusually meticulous with the chassis and bodywork. Such testing may involve ultrasonic scans or dye penetrant checks typically used to detect micro-cracks or surface irregularities that might not be visible to the naked eye.
Although he initially expressed confusion as to why McLaren needed to replace or inspect several surfaces on Norris’s car, Kravitz clarified later in the session that the team had sent him an official message. The communication stated that the situation was simply “an operational issue that required further checks” and was “not something to be alarmed about.”
A procedural bump, nothing more
In the end, the incident amounted to little more than a minor procedural hiccup for McLaren. The combination of FIA cooperation, thorough engineering vigilance, and strong on-track performance ensured that the situation had no negative impact on their Qatar GP preparations.
The team’s quick communication with the FIA, paired with their transparent explanations to the media, helped prevent unnecessary speculation or controversy. And with Piastri and Norris immediately showing front-running pace in FP1, McLaren were able to shift full focus back to their championship campaign without the shadow of a regulatory issue lingering over the weekend.
