Following a post-qualifying meeting with race stewards, George Russell has been hit with a two-place grid penalty for “impeding” during qualifying at the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix.
George Russell penalized at São Paulo Grand Prix
The Mercedes driver has been hit with a grid penalty for impeding
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
The penalty comes in the wake of race officials issuing new guidance for drivers prior to qualifying in an effort to combat potential “impeding” penalties. The reason? During qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix three drivers — including Russell — were asked to meet with race officials after they were found holding up traffic on pit lane, in an attempt to find the right spot on the track for their qualifying runs.
The three drivers were each cleared of their conduct and no action was taken, as race stewards noted the “contrary requirements” of respecting minimum times, creating a safe gap to cars in front, and not holding up traffic behind them.
The Race Notes issued on Thursday contained this language:
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.
However, during qualifying Russell exited the pits and slowed down to create a gap for himself on the track. According to the decision from race officials, Russell “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.”
As you can see from this clip, Pierre Gasly comes out of pit lane and encounters a slowed Russell, and nearly runs into him:
As a result, Russell will start the São Paulo Grand Prix in eighth position, and not sixth where he qualified.
Russell is not the only driver facing such a penalty. Race officials also summoned Sergio Pérez, and Gasly himself, for similar violations.
However, no decisions have been reached yet in their cases.
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