Four F1 drivers to face stewards after Brazilian GP

Four F1 drivers will have to answer to the stewards following a start infringement in the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Race control opted to abort the start after a formation lap crash at Interlagos involving Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, who clipped a wall after sliding off track, only to beach his car in a gravel trap in a bid to return.

As the rest of the field lined up in their grid slots, with Stroll's car stranded and needing to be rescued, race director Niels Wittich was left with no alternative but to abort.

From pole position, McLaren's Lando Norris pulled away. The Briton was followed by the Mercedes of George Russell, and the RB duo of Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, who were lining up third and fifth respectively.

Norris' 'starting infringement procedure' was initially noted before an investigation was called. It was not until many minutes later that the stewards also noted Russell, Tsunoda and Lawson.

Given the unusual circumstances, however, behind the aborted start, the stewards determined that the investigations would take place after the race.

The belief is the stewards need to speak to the drivers to understand their thinking rather than trying to ascertain what unfolded and imposing an in-race penalty.