Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg has received a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, dropping him to seventh on the grid.
Hulkenberg had a sensational qualifying for Haas, setting the fourth-fastest time in the top-10 Q3 shootout.
The performance was vital as Haas trails Alpine by five points in the battle for sixth in the F1 Constructors’ standings and their best qualifying effort was sixth courtesy of Pierre Gasly.
However, Hulkenberg was summoned to the stewards post-qualifying after he overtook two cars in the tunnel that comprises the pit-lane exit at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 27 [Hulkenberg], team representative and reviewed marshalling system data, video, timing and in-car video evidence,” the written verdict read.
“The driver did not dispute during the hearing that he did not follow the Race Director’s instructions, but stated that he had no other option but to breach the rules in order to get a lap in.
“Whilst the Stewards acknowledge that the position of the team’s garages limits their options to send the cars out on track, this can never be used as an excuse to breach any regulations.
“The prohibition of overtaking in certain areas as the pit lane or, in this case, the pit exit, is implemented to prevent potentially dangerous situations and therefore the Stewards determine that a grid drop is warranted in this case.”
The three-place grid drop has dropped Hulkenberg to seventh on the grid, promoting Gasly to fifth and handing the initiative to Alpine in that crucial fight for sixth in the Constructors’ standings.
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