Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon penalized on the grid in Brazil
Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, have both received a penalty for impeding other drivers at the exit of the pit lane during qualifying. They both move back two places on the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix.
It’s a decision Alpine would have preferred to avoid. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were penalized after the qualifying session for impeding other drivers at the exit of the pit lane. In order to prevent drivers from stopping in the pit lane to create gaps with the car ahead, race control had authorized them to slow down at the exit of the pit lane until the first Safety Car line.
On the other hand, they had to keep to the left in order to allow the drivers behind them to overtake. But at the end of Q1, as both Alpines were going out with many others to make their final attempts, Pierre Gasly stayed right in the middle of the pit lane, driving slowly. Yuki Tsunoda complained about it on his radio, as did Sergio Perez, who was stuck in the same situation behind Esteban Ocon just a few meters back.
Gasly and Ocon move back two places on the grid
In order to avoid situations like the ones that occurred in Mexico, the race director’s briefing notes included a specific clause (point 14) stating that it was permitted to go slowly at the exit of the pit lane to create a gap before crossing the SC2 line, explain the stewards in their decision.
However, by doing so, a driver must stay as far left as possible to allow other drivers to pass on the right. Ocon (like Gasly, editor’s note) went slowly in order to create a gap for a free lap, but failed to stay completely on the left. As a result, the car(s) behind were unable to overtake, as instructed by the race director. This clearly violates the wording and spirit of point 14 of the race director’s event notes, continues the statement.
As a result, both drivers are penalized with a 2-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix. This does not have any impact on tomorrow’s sprint race. Esteban Ocon will start 14th, just ahead of his teammate Pierre Gasly, who will start 15th. Kévin Magnussen and Alexander Albon gain two positions each and will now take the 12th and 13th places that were initially occupied by the Alpines.
Esteban and Pierre have received a two-place grid penalty for the #BrazilGP following a pit lane exit infringement.
Esteban starts P14, Pierre P15.#Alpine pic.twitter.com/o2P9HziBaJ
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 3, 2023
