After penalty chaos: This is how Formula 1 reacts

Because around 1200 cases involving accusations of leaving the track without permission had to be checked, there was a chaos of penalties following the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday evening. Eight drivers were subsequently hit with sanctions, some of which were severe, because they had repeatedly failed to stay within the white lane markings in accordance with the rules. There has never been a case like this in the premier motorsport class.

The Aston Martin racing team protested against the race result. The accusation: Not all offenses were punished during the run. This was actually the case and has been made up for. The final ranking was only published around 21.45:96 p.m. Record world champions Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, Carlos Sainz from Ferrari and Pierre Gasly from Alpine were postponed due to their penalties and lost championship points. “Leaving the route several times without a good reason” was the official reason. Eight penalties were imposed during the race and XNUMX lap times were canceled.

Carlos Sainz (r.) fell from fourth to sixth place. © APA / ERWIN SCHERIAU

The large number of penalties changed the race result on Sunday afternoon, but the podium places were not affected and world champion Max Verstappen remained the winner of the race. Ferrari star Charles Leclerc came second in Styria ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull (click here for the race report).

The Frenchman Esteban Ocon from the Alpine team received the most severe sanction, receiving four penalties. A total of 30 seconds was added to his race time. A spokesman for the world motorsport association FIA explained that an “unprecedented situation had arisen” and that due to potentially many rule violations, not all possible violations could be checked during the race. The peculiarities of the route and the tendency of many drivers to repeatedly drive outside the white lines contributed to this. There had been major problems in Spielberg throughout the weekend because the drivers couldn't keep their cars within the white line.

Verstappen had warned World champion Max Verstappen said on Friday after qualifying that it was more difficult to adhere to the piste limits in Spielberg than on any other course. “At the end of a lap, the tires get too hot, your car slips more, and then a small wave or compression is enough to push you next to the ideal line,” said Verstappen: “We looked like idiots, like amateurs – unbelievable! “

A repetition of such an undignified situation must be prevented at all costs. Therefore, the route operators were recommended to renew the course and install a gravel bed at the exit of the affected turns nine and ten. Then the drivers would automatically drive more slowly because they would no longer risk getting stuck in the gravel.

The updated top ten result: Pos Name Country Team Time 1. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 1:25:33,607 hours 2. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari +5,155 seconds 3. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 17,188+ 4. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 26,327+ 5. Fernando Alonso ESP Aston Martin 30,317+ 6. Carlos Sainz ESP Ferrari 31,377+ 7. George Russell GBR Mercedes 48,403+ 8. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 49,196+ 9. Lance stroll CAN Aston Martin 59,043+ 10. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpine +1:07,667 minutes

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After penalty chaos: This is how Formula 1 reacts

It was already dark and the drivers had long since left the Formula 1 circuit in Spielberg when the result was finally announced five hours after the end of the race. A situation that should never happen again.

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