Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson has been slapped with three penalty points for failing to slow for double-waved yellow flags during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Ericsson was on a push lap in Q1 when yellow flags were flown for an incident involving team-mate Charles Leclerc, who had half spun exiting the final corner.
Ericsson moved off the racing line to avoid the recovering Leclerc and completed his lap.
It proved to be his quickest lap in the session after he locked up into the Turn 14 hairpin on his final push lap.
Ericsson qualified at the rear of the 20-car grid and was handed a five-place penalty for the infraction, though the sanction has no impact on his starting position.
Stewards also issued him with three penalty points, bringing his 12-month rolling total to five.
The stewards noted that video evidence proved Ericsson “clearly attempted to set a meaningful lap time” after passing through the incident, which was “contrary to the requirements” outlined in the pre-event notes.
Ericsson also “made no attempt to significantly reduce his speed in the area of a double-waved yellow flag", hence explaining his penalty.
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