McLaren has been fined €30,000 by the FIA after taping over a critical clutch disengagement button on Lando Norris's car during second practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. The action delayed marshals from moving the stranded MCL40, triggering a red flag.
The incident occurred when Norris's car stopped at the Nouvelle Chicane. Marshals could not activate the mandatory clutch disengagement system because the team had covered the button with transparent tape for aerodynamic reasons. Stewards determined that the tape defeated the system's purpose, as it could not be pressed quickly by a gloved marshal without tools. Norris and team officials attended a hearing two hours after the session ended. The team admitted the breach of Article C9.3 of the regulations, which requires the system to remain accessible and functional. Ten thousand euros of the fine was suspended for 12 months, provided no further violations occur. The penalty mirrors a similar €30,000 fine issued to Racing Bulls earlier in Canada for a comparable issue with the same safety feature.
