Norris Disqualification Scare After Urgent McLaren Radio Call
Lando Norris’s quest for a first Formula 1 world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix nearly took a frightening turn in qualifying after a moment of panic from his race engineer, Will Joseph. The McLaren star, who entered the weekend with a 12-point advantage over Max Verstappen, knew that securing any podium finish on Sunday would seal the championship. With so much at stake, every detail of qualifying carried enormous weight—not just for Norris, but also for Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, the third contender in the title showdown.
But just as the tense session unfolded, Norris’s team suddenly feared he had committed a mistake that could have resulted in the ultimate penalty: disqualification from qualifying.
A Moment of Panic in the McLaren Garage
During Q2, McLaren’s Will Joseph became convinced that Norris had missed a mandatory visit to the FIA weigh bridge—a mistake that would automatically trigger disqualification from the session. The weigh bridge checks are randomly assigned during qualifying, and all drivers must proceed to the designated FIA station when called. Ignoring or missing the signal, even unintentionally, is treated as a serious breach of Formula 1’s technical regulations.
The confusion arose when Oscar Piastri received the call to report to the weigh bridge. In the flurry of activity on the pit wall, Joseph mistakenly believed that the FIA’s signal had been directed at Norris instead. Realizing what he thought was a critical error, he urgently radioed his driver:
> “Weigh bridge! Weigh bridge! Lando!”
Joseph’s voice carried clear panic, instantly transmitting the seriousness of the situation. For a brief moment, it seemed as though Norris might be forced to start the decisive title race from the pit lane—an outcome that would have made a podium finish and the championship nearly impossible.
Fortunately for McLaren, Norris remained composed. He had noticed the pit board displaying Oscar’s number, not his own, and continued with his lap. Moments later, the team confirmed that it was indeed Piastri—not Norris—who had been summoned. Joseph’s momentary panic subsided, and McLaren breathed a sigh of relief.
Why Missing the Weigh Bridge Is So Severe
Article 35 of Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations outlines strict rules for mid-session weigh-ins. These checks ensure that teams are not manipulating car weight to gain performance advantages. A lighter car can run faster, particularly over a qualifying lap where every thousandth of a second matters. Because weight influences speed so significantly, the FIA randomly selects drivers during sessions to verify that cars remain compliant.
If a driver misses a weigh bridge call, the consequence is immediate disqualification from qualifying. This prevents any suspicion that a team might avoid weighing the car to conceal a weight-related rule breach. The penalty is not up for debate—no excuses, no appeals, no second chances.
The FIA takes these spot checks seriously, and teams train their pit crews and drivers to watch for the signal at all times. The risk is too great to take lightly, especially during a title-deciding weekend.
Checks Beyond Qualifying
Although the weigh bridge plays a major role during qualifying, it is not the only time cars are inspected. After the race, the FIA typically selects a small number of cars—usually four or five—to undergo full weight checks. Again, the selection is random to prevent manipulation or pre-race preparation aimed at dodging inspections.
In addition to weight checks, several other technical examinations take place after a grand prix. These may include:
Inspection of front and rear wing gurneys
Measurement of skid blocks, which have already led to disqualifications earlier in the 2025 season
Sampling of engine oil to ensure compliance
Verifying the legality of various aerodynamic and mechanical components
These checks ensure that no team gains an illegal edge and that the competition remains fair from the start of qualifying to the final lap of the race.
Crisis Averted for McLaren
In the end, the fear of disqualification turned out to be a false alarm for Lando Norris. All 20 drivers adhered to the weigh bridge summons during qualifying, and the official grid remained unchanged after the session. But the episode illustrated just how tight the margins are in Formula 1—especially during a championship decider.
For Norris, Joseph, and the entire McLaren garage, the moment will likely be remembered as a brief but heart-stopping scare in an already high-pressure weekend. With the grid finally locked in and no penalties affecting the front-runners, attention shifted back to Sunday’s showdown, where Norris’s quest for his first world title remained very much alive.
