George Russell penalized in Austin
George Russell receives a three-place penalty. Thus, the Mercedes driver will start in eleventh position on the starting grid of the Sprint race.
As he was preparing his last attempt at a quick lap during the first Sprint Shootout session, George Russell found himself on the racetrack at the exit of turn 19, hindering Charles Leclerc, who, himself, was on a quick lap. Quite upset, the Monegasque did not hesitate to complain about it on the radio.
Placed under investigation, the British driver was ultimately found guilty. The race commissioners have thus decided to punish him with a three-place penalty.
The FIA, International Automobile Federation, communication explains that « car 63 approached the two final turns preparing to do its lap of the track at the end of the QS1, while car 16 was rapidly closing in. Although the team had informed the driver of the approaching car a few seconds in advance, […] car 63 did not move away from the race line in or after turn 19 and therefore unnecessarily hampered car 16. »
After initially recording the eighth best time, George Russell will finally start in 11th position for this Saturday’s Sprint race.
