Stewards hand out multiple post-race penalties

F1 Grand Prix, GP Hungary, Hungaroring

Haas drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen have received post-race time penalty after the race stewards found the American team guilty for aiding their drivers during the formation lap.

The Haas team has been found guilty after the stewards found that radio transmission on the formation lap breached article 27.1 of the Formula 1 sporting regulations. Both drivers were instructed to pit for slick tyres after the team felt it was a risk worth taking. The Stewards claimed that teams are allowed to ask their driver to pit in the race, but not ahead of it.

„Having considered the matter extensively, the Stewards determined that the team instructed the driver to pit. The team could not prove that one of the exemptions made under paragraph A. 2. a) to g) of the Technical Directive 011-17 was applicable. Therefore, the Stewards consider there is breach of Art. 27.1 of the Sporting Regulations, that the driver must drive the car alone and unaided.”

Magnussen and Grosjean have received a 10-second time penalty that has been added to their race time. The decision means that Magnussen drops one position to 10th while Romain Grosjean slips from P15 to P16.

After starting from the 13th position and finishing fifth, Alexander Albon’s Hungarian Grand Prix result was hanging in the balance. His Red Bull team were alleged to have tried to dry the Thai driver’s grid slot with the blowers with which teams cool engines and brakes.

Following an investigation into the matter, the stewards have decided against a penalty. “The Stewards reviewed video evidence and came to the conclusion that the competitor did not attempt to alter the grip of the track surface.”

Nicholas Latifi has received a five-second time penalty during the Hungarian Grand Prix due to an incident during the first pit stops’ phase. Carlos Sainz’s McLaren was on the fast lane when the Canadian was released by Williams which led to contact between the two cars.
The Stewards deemed the incident as an unsafe release and imposed a five-second time penalty on the Canadian driver.

Kimi Räikkönen has also been given a five-second penalty during the 70-lap race at Budapest. The Finn was found guilty for lining up incorrectly after sliding over his pit box line. The 2007 world champion finished the race in the 16th position, but gained a place due to Romain Grosjean’s penalty.