The FIA has handed Nico Hulkenberg a suspended stop-and-go penalty after a formation lap breach at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.
The Audi driver got caught up in a chaotic start to the 70-lap race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, on Sunday.
After two aborted starts, and three formation laps, the race finally began on the third attempt. That said, Hulkenberg was painfully slow off the line on the last formation lap.
This saw Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson jump the German driver. But instead of reverting back into their correct positions, the pair crossed the Safety Car 1 line, finally getting into their respective grid slots.
Under the current Sporting Regulations, this would have attracted a slam dunk stop-and-go penalty for Hulkenberg.
However, the FIA stewards took a lenient view in light of mitigating circumstances and have handed him a suspended sentence instead.
If the Audi driver is to repeat this offence, the suspended penalty would come into effect. Hulkenberg has also been handed his first official reprimand of the season.
“This was an unusual incident. Car 27 was slower than could be reasonably expected, starting from its grid position for what would be a third formation lap,” read the stewards’ verdict.
“Car 30 started sooner than expected and should have waited longer for Car 27 to start. During the formation lap, the driver of Car 27 claimed he was unable to safely pass Car 30 to regain the correct position.
“However, despite the cars being in the incorrect order when crossing the SC1 line, the start was not required to be delayed, no disruption to the grid was required and there was no impact on the competition.
“However in view of the above mitigating circumstances, the Stewards consider this penalty to be extremely harsh and not proportionate to a breach that was relatively minor in effect and impact.
“Accordingly the Stop and Go Penalty is suspended using the authority vested in the Stewards under ISC Article 12.4.6.”
Hulkenberg eventually took the chequered flag, two laps down, in 12th, while Lawson scored points for the Faenza-based team with a seventh-placed finish.
READ MORE – Nico Hulkenberg slams F1 critics: ‘If you don’t like it, you don’t have to watch’
Discussion about this post