Andrea Stella has confirmed that McLaren are talking to the FIA to get clarification over the yellow flag incident that condemned Lando Norris to an early Q1 exit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Norris was in the danger zone during his final Q1 run and was on course to make the improvements necessary to advance, but a yellow flag waved for the slow-moving Esteban Ocon forced him to abandon his lap.

This has disastrous implications for Norris’ World Championship fight, although with Max Verstappen starting sixth, the 24-year-old has a chance to limit the damage on Sunday.

Despite Red Bull’s setback, Stella was unimpressed. “We were discussing now with the FIA as to why a yellow flag was displayed at that moment in time, which was extremely costly,” he told Sky Sports F1.

“The team didn’t say it because it was displayed last minute and we checked right now in our tools and it is actually displayed as a yellow, so we were in conversations with the FIA as to why that happened because the yellow flag isn’t necessary when there’s a car is just a slow car, it is not on a flying lap.

“Everyone tried their best I’m sure, this time there was a situation that ideally, and I think by the regulations, shouldn’t have happened. We paid the price but we don’t give up. We move on, we will do our best tomorrow to get some good points.”

Norris wanted to avoid hitting the panic button after stepping out of the cockpit. “Everyone did their second laps and I didn’t,” he said after the session. “It was unlucky, that’s all.

“I had to lift. It is what it is. There’s a long race ahead, we have some good tyres in the bank, I’m still hopeful we can get a good result. I think the car is quick. Bit frustrating, but nothing I can do.”

While Norris struggled, his team-mate enjoyed a strong qualifying session. Oscar Piastri was unable to lay a glove on polesitter Charles Leclerc but finished best of the rest to book his place on the front row of the grid.