The Haas of Kevin Magnussen will drop 3 places on the grid for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix as the stewards found the Dane guilty of impeding Charles Leclerc during Q2 earlier this afternoon.
It all started at turn 9. Magnussen lost the car on a push lap and hit the wall quite hard with the rear wing. As he recovered, the Danish driver rejoined in front of Leclerc.
With the Ferrari driver on a push lap, Magnussen horribly held him through Pouhon and through the rest of the middle sector. Fortunately for the Ferrari driver, he did get a lap in afterwards and made it through.
Magnussen loses 13th spot on the grid and will now start P16 on Sunday. Bottas, Ocon and Albon all gain a position.
Photo credit: MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
FIA statement on the penalty:
“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 20 (Kevin Magnussen), the driver of Car
16 (Charles Leclerc), team representatives and reviewed video, telemetry, team
radio and in-car video evidence.
“Magnussen left the track at Turn 9 and made contact with the wall. He then rejoined and drove the dry line. Leclerc, who was on a fast lap, caught Magnussen who did not give way until turn 16. Magnussen explained that he did not feel it was safe to move off onto the wet at speed and give room to Leclerc, particularly in the turns between 11 and 15.
“The Stewards observed that he did not receive a warning from his team
that Leclerc was behind until Leclerc was right behind him at turn 10. The team also
told him to push, as he needed to make it to the line to get another lap.
“Whether it was his failure to slow and yield following his accident, or whether it was
the team’s failure to give information early enough that he could have pulled off
earlier, or whether it was the instruction to push through the lap; in any case the Stewards determine that he unnecessarily impeded Leclerc.
“Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the
Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits.
“Decisions of the Stewards are taken independently of the FIA and are based solely on the relevant regulations, guidelines and evidence presented.”
