Warnings for several drivers after the Chinese Grand Prix

The Chinese Grand Prix was marked by several reprimands from the race stewards. Nico Hülkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Yuki Tsunoda all received an official warning after violating the rules regarding practice starts.

Non-compliant test departures

The race stewards, after receiving a report from the race director, reviewed the facts and found that the three drivers had performed a practice start outside the zone specified by the race management, thus violating Article 12.2.1 i) of the FIA International Sporting Code and the event instructions (document 59, article 10).

« The infraction was committed during reconnaissance laps, a phase that is regulated like a free practice session. The analysis of positioning system data, onboard videos, and images allowed the stewards to determine that cars No. 27 (Hülkenberg), No. 14 (Bortoleto), and No. 22 (Tsunoda) did not respect the instructions regarding the authorized position to perform a practice start, states a FIA communiqué.

However, as the infraction did not affect any other driver nor pose any particular danger, the stewards decided to issue a simple warning to the three drivers involved.

A reminder of the rules before the race

Although these warnings do not have a direct impact on the results of the Chinese Grand Prix, they serve as an important reminder to drivers and teams about respecting technical instructions and safety rules on track. A repeat offense could lead to harsher sanctions, such as a time penalty or a deduction of points from the super license.

In accordance with the FIA International Sporting Code and disciplinary rules, teams have the right to appeal within the allotted time frame.