ASTON MARTIN ESCAPES FIA PENALTY FOR BREAKING CURFEW BEFORE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX PRACTICE

 

STEWARDS DELIVER FINAL VERDICT OVER HAMILTON FORCING VERSTAPPEN OFF TRACK IN AUSTRIAN GP

Photo: Race Pictures

The stewards issued a no further action verdict for Lewis Hamilton after forcing Max Verstappen off the track during their battle for second place in the early stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.

On Lap 11, Hamilton and Verstappen went wheel to wheel in a fierce battle for second place. Verstappen briefly got ahead, but Hamilton immediately fought back, reclaiming the position before squeezing the Dutchman to the outside and almost into the gravel.

Verstappen quickly came on the radio to call for a penalty for the British driver, but the fight effectively ended two laps later when Hamilton pitted, moving out of his rival's way.

- Tobia Elia

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THE STEWARDS DECISION SCUDERIA FERRARI HP | MONACO GRAND PRIX 2026

 

FERNANDO ALONSO AND GEORGE RUSSELL UNDER INVESTIGATION AFTER STRANGE NEAR-MISS

What action will the stewards take after yet another strange Zandvoort incident?

Fernando Alonso and George Russell have been placed under investigation following a strange incident in the closing minutes of final practice at Zandvoort. 

As final practice entered its final minutes ahead of qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell and Alonso suffered a near-miss at the pit entry. 

Alonso exited the final corner on a hot lap and appeared to attempt to receive a tow from Russell ahead, who remained on the racing line. 

However, as the Aston Martin driver almost drew alongside the Briton, Russell suddenly ventured across the circuit to try to enter the pit lane.

Unaware of Alonso behind, Russell suddenly took avoiding action and veered back to the left and remained on the circuit, whilst the two-time world champion found himself trapped and forced to enter the pit lane. 

He drove through the pit lane and immediately rejoined the circuit, quickly complaining that Russell failed to check his mirrors. 

The FIA stewards are investigating whether there was a breach of Article 37.5 and/or Article 33.4 of the sporting regulations, regarding Russell driving erratically at the pit entry.

- Nick Golding

YUKI TSUNODA QUESTIONS F1 STEWARDS DESPITE 'DESERVED' PENALTY

Yuki Tsunoda finished a lapped last at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and questioned the F1 stewards' decision.

© XPBimages

Yuki Tsunoda has conceded his penalty for ramming Oliver Bearman in the British Grand Prix was "deserved" but still questioned the F1 stewards. 

On lap 22, just after the restart where Max Verstappen spun the sister Red Bull, Tsunoda was passed around the outside of Brooklands by Bearman, but then tipped the Haas into a spin. 

For this, Tsunoda received a 10-second penalty and a single penalty point on his super-licence, taking him to five for the 12-month period. 

In Austria, Tsunoda was handed two points for colliding with Franco Colapinto and picked up two for overtaking a damaged Oscar Piastri under red flags in Canadian GP practice.

Whilst he felt the Bearman penalty was justified, Tsunoda did question his treatment at the hands of F1 stewards over recent races. 

"I deserve the penalty, but 10 seconds, obviously last year, it was probably five seconds," Tsunoda told media, including RacingNews365. 

"So they did not make any exceptions, but it is what it is. 

"I was already pretty annoyed with the pace, but it is just very harsh to be honest, 

"10 seconds felt like two days, but they gave it, and they have not been nice to me recently with these penalty points and overtaking a damaged car [of Piastri in Montreal].

"But I am just really focused more towards performance now anyway."

- Jake Nichol

FIA PROVIDE STRANGE REASON BEHIND VERSTAPPEN'S 'VIOLATION'

© XPBimages

Max Verstappen was subject to a stewards' investigation after sprint qualifying in Miami on Friday.

The FIA have explained why Max Verstappen was investigated after the sprint qualifying session in Miami.

Red Bull and Verstappen were found to be in breach of the regulations but only a reprimand was issued the way of the team.

Verstappen was summoned for allegedly exceeding the maximum delta time between the two safety car lines.

While multiple other drivers were cleared of a similar alleged infringement due to efforts made not to impede rival competitors, Verstappen was called to explain himself to the stewards.

The FIA has explained that a programming error from Red Bull led to Verstappen going slower than permitted and warned a similar action in the future could result in a harsher punishment.

“Car 1 was around 6 seconds above the required minimum time between Safety Car Lines 1 and 2 for one lap in SQ2, but complied with the requirement in all other laps,” read a statement from the stewards.

“Telemetry showed that the driver was driving with a constant speed throughout the lap without any other cars around as if he was managing the delta at approx. 6 seconds off the relevant number.

“During the hearing the team stated that due to a false programming in the car the delta time displayed in the car had an offset of 6 seconds and whilst the driver was managing the delta displayed he was constantly approx. 6 seconds above the minimum time.

“The team identified the problem by the end of the first cool-down lap and immediately instructed the driver to manage his speed in a way that he would be min. 6 seconds below the delta time displayed in the car, which he did in all following laps.

“This was confirmed by the telemetry. The Stewards acknowledge that, whilst there has been a breach of the regulations, VER did not drive 'unnecessarily slowly' based on the information he had in the car and did not impede any other cars or create any dangerous situation and therefore determine that a penalty for the driver is not warranted.

“However, a Reprimand to the team is issued as they are responsible for ensuring that correct timing information is displayed in the car. 

”It is worth noting that in different circumstances a more severe penalty might be applied for a similar infringement.”

- Fergal Walsh

ZAK BROWN AT THE AUTOSPORT BUSINESS EXCHANGE

 

MCLAREN APPEAL 5S LANDO NORRIS PENALTY AT THE 2024 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

 

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THE STEWARS EXPLANATION ON NOT PENALISING MAX VERSTAPPEN AFTER COLLIDING WITH SIR LEWIS HAMILTON AT THE 2024 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX

 

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F1 STEWARDS' REPORT

 

LEWIS HAMILTON'S +5 SECONDS PENALTY

 

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F1: NICO HULKENBERG, CARLOS SAINZ AND LANCE STROLL REPRIMANDED AFTER ITALIAN GRAND PRIX

Italian Grand Prix stewards ruled that "significant" roles were played by Sainz, Nico and Stroll and therefore were reprimanded...