F1 Team hears double penalty verdict after Qatar GP qualifying blunder
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated:
0 Comments
A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
The FIA Stewards have reached a verdict on Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon incidents during the Qualifying for the Qatar GP.
Williams were penalised for Carlos Sainz' unsafe release during Q3 in Qatar. Photo: RacePictures.
The Spaniard left the pit lane during Q3, the session in which he would finish in P7, and dragged a huge piece of plastic, which turned out to be a floor sticker, that had latched onto his rear tyre.
Whilst his qualifying results did not come under threat, Williams was punished by the race officials.
The team led by James Vowles has been fined 5000 euros for releasing Sainz in an unsafe manner.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The team advised that it had been using this floor sticker since mid-season and had not previously experienced any problems with it peeling off the floor," the Stewards' verdict explained.
"However, ultimately, the team is responsible for ensuring that the car is not released in an unsafe condition, and video evidence showed that the driver had great difficulty in controlling the car; thus, the stewards determine that this was an unsafe situation," the race officials concluded.
Alexander Albon was also under investigation for a pit lane infringement at the start of qualifying. The team were absolved of any wrongdoing in this case and will not face a penalty for the incident. Albon qualified in P15.
GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update
Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
