George Russell, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have been a handed 2-place grid penalties for Sunday’s São Paulo Grand Prix after impeding on pit exit during qualifying.
In the Race Director’s Notes on Thursday, Niels Wittich outlined that “as per article 33.4 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, drivers are not allowed to go unnecessarily slow, that includes stopping a car in the fast lane of the pit lane.
“During Shootout and Qualifying, drivers may create a gap between the pit exit lights and the SC2 line. Any driver who wishes to do so must drive as far to the left as possible to allow other drivers to pass them on the right side of the pit exit road.”
The Brit and Alpine duo were summoned because they failed to do so just two minutes after qualifying started at Interlagos.
Word came through almost three hours after qualifying finished that Russell would be docked two spots. He’ll now start P8 for Sunday’s race, with Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz moving up one spot each.
Reasoning:
“In order to avoid situations like the ones that occurred in Mexico, the Race Director’s
Event Notes for this event contained a specific clause (item 14) stipulating that it was permitted to go slow in the pit exit to create a gap before crossing the SC2 line,
however, by doing so, a driver must stay as far to the left as possible to allow other
drivers to pass on the right side.
“Russell was exiting the pits, preparing for an out lap. Russell went slow to create a gap for a clear lap, but did not manage to stay completely to the left.
“As a result, following car(s) were not able to overtake, as intended by the Race Director’s instructions.
“This clearly violates the wording and the spirit of item 14 of the Race Director’s Event Notes.”
Photo credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Later in the same hour, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were also handed a 2-place demotion for the same infringment.
“Ocon was exiting the pits, preparing for an out-lap. Ocon went slow to create a gap for
a clear lap, but did not manage to stay completely to the left.
As a result, following car(s) were not able to overtake, as intended by the Race Director’s instructions.”
Photo credit: BWT Alpine F1 team
“Gasly was exiting the pits, preparing for an out-lap. Gasly went slow to create a gap for
a clear lap, but did not manage to stay completely to the left.
“As a result, following car(s) were not able to overtake, as intended by the Race Director’s instructions.”
Ocon and Gasly drop to P14 and P15 on the grid respectively. Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon both gain two positions and will start 12th and 13th on Sunday.
