Haas driver Nikita Mazepin was sanctioned after stewards deemed that he impeded Lando Norris during qualifying for Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Mazepin was judged to have got in Norris’ way through the chicane as the Briton attempted to complete a push lap in Q1.
Mazepin completed Q1 as the slowest driver but was handed a notional three-place grid penalty for his actions.
He was also issued a penalty point on his Super Licence, bringing his rolling 12-month total to two, having been handed his first point for not adhering to blue flags in the race in Portugal.
Stewards concluded that Mazepin, setting up for a fast lap, was informed through Turns 10 and 11 that Norris was closing on a fast lap.
Mazepin “then slowed to maintain the gap to [Mick] Schumacher ahead of him, with both setting up for their fast laps.
“Between Turn 13 and 14 [Kimi] Raikkonen and [Yuki] Tsunoda, who were coming into the pits, jumped ahead of Mazepin. Both cars had also been informed of the fast-closing Norris, and it is clear that they did this to get out of Norris’ way.
“However this created a difficult situation for Mazepin. The stewards determined that having been clearly informed of Norris’ whereabouts, Mazepin’s decision to pull out and re-pass Raikkonen and Tsunoda clearly impeded Norris, who lost significant time.”
The stewards recognised Mazepin was “faced with a difficult situation” and that “this was also pointed out by Norris in the hearing.”
However it was concluded that Mazepin could have pulled over, followed Norris, while avoiding compromising his lap.
Didn’t they use to roll over penalties until they could be applied?
Maybe they stopped that with the period of PU penalty madness…….