Source: Haas F1 Media

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Sirotkin and Magnussen hit with reprimands after qualifying

Sirotkin and Magnussen hit with reprimands after qualifying

11-11-2018 10:55
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Jake Williams-Smith

Sergey Sirotkin and Kevin Magnussen have been given reprimands after being deemed to have driven too slowly on their in-laps at the end of Q1. The pair were called to the stewards separately after the session to plead their cases but ultimately were judged to have broken the rules.

Although race stewards admitted that Sirotkin had not driven in a dangerous manner, the Russian had exceeded the time delta allowed for cars to return to the pits after the chequered flag falls. It earned him his first reprimand of the season.

Unlike Sirotkin, Magnussen's reprimand lands him in hot water between now and the final race in Abu Dhabi, one more reprimand will see him slapped with a ten-place grid penalty.

The statement on the incident from the stewards also acknowledged that the Haas driver was taking the rain into account and decided a reprimand was the correct punishment.

"The Stewards closely examined the driver's in-lap and found that Car 20 took particular care not to impede other drivers. The driver also noted that he was concerned with the rain in the circumstances. 

“However, the Stewards noted that other drivers were setting representative times at this moment, and that the delta time is based on 145% of a representative lap. Therefore the Stewards found that a breach was committed, but took into account the drivers concern about rain and imposed a reprimand.”