Gasly close to hefty penalty!

There was a scary moment for F1 championship leader Lewis Hamilton during FP1 when he almost ran into the back of Pierre Gasly’s Toro Rosso during the first session of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Hamilton had just gone around the famously fast 130R corner at the Suzuka circuit and was about to attack the final chicane when he came across the Frenchman dawdling on the racing line.

Fortunately, Hamilton reacted quickly enough and yanked his car to the right and ran down the slip road.

The Brit made his feelings clear to Gasly as he was re-joining the track, waving his hand at the driver of car number 10.

The stewards investigated the incident and found it worthy of handing Gasly a reprimand, his second of the season.

A stewards’ report stated: “On approaching Turn 16, car No 10 [Gasly] slowed down significantly on the racing line. Car 44 [Hamilton] was approaching at racing speed on a hot lap and had to take evasive action to avoid car 10.

Gasly’s first reprimand of the season was in his home race, for causing a collision with fellow Frenchman Esteban Ocon on the opening lap of the race at Paul Ricard.

One more reprimand this season; sporting or driving, will see the future Red Bull driver slapped with a 10-place grid penalty.