FIA: F1 star handed PENALTY ahead of US Grand Prix after clumsy

F1 Star Hit with Grid Penalty After Costly Crash Ahead of United States Grand Prix

The 2025 Formula 1 season continues to serve up intense drama, and the latest twist has seen Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll handed a significant five-place grid penalty for his role in a crash during the sprint race at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The penalty, issued by the FIA stewards, follows what was deemed a “careless and avoidable” collision with Esteban Ocon in the latter stages of Saturday’s sprint at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

The United States Grand Prix marks the 19th round of the championship, and it’s a crucial weekend for all three of the title contenders — Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen — as they continue to battle for supremacy. The event also featured the fourth sprint weekend of the 2025 campaign, adding an extra layer of pressure for drivers fighting for valuable championship points.

Friday’s qualifying session for the sprint saw reigning world champion Max Verstappen secure yet another pole position — his third consecutive sprint pole at the Austin circuit. He lined up alongside Lando Norris on the front row, setting the stage for a thrilling 100km dash on Saturday. Just behind them, Oscar Piastri — who currently leads the championship standings — started from third place, with Nico Hulkenberg completing the second row for Sauber.

However, as has often been the case at the iconic COTA circuit, chaos erupted almost immediately. The steep, uphill Turn 1 is notorious for tight racing, and the sprint’s opening lap delivered drama in abundance. Piastri made contact with Hulkenberg’s car while battling for position, causing his McLaren to spin into team-mate Norris. The collision wiped both McLaren drivers out of the sprint before they could complete a single lap — a devastating blow for the team that had recently wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship title.

While Verstappen went on to claim his 13th career sprint race victory after a commanding performance, more mayhem unfolded further down the grid involving Lance Stroll. In a desperate attempt to improve his position during the closing laps, the Canadian driver launched an overly ambitious move down the inside of Esteban Ocon’s Alpine at Turn 1 — the same corner that had already claimed several victims earlier in the race.

Stroll locked up under braking and collided with Ocon’s car, sending both drivers into retirement. The incident added to the growing list of casualties from the sprint race, which had already seen Piastri, Norris, and even two-time world champion Fernando Alonso ruled out of contention.

Following the collision, the FIA stewards swiftly summoned both Stroll and Ocon, along with representatives from their respective teams, to review the footage and gather statements. After careful consideration, the stewards released their official verdict late on Saturday, finding Stroll “wholly at fault” for the crash.

In their statement, the FIA explained:

> “Car 18 [Stroll] attempted an inside overtake on Car 31 [Ocon] into Turn 1 but misjudged the braking point and collided with Car 31. The Stewards determine that the driver of Car 18 is wholly at fault and apply a penalty accordingly.”

Because Stroll did not finish the sprint race, the usual time penalty was converted into a five-place grid drop for Sunday’s main Grand Prix. Additionally, he received two penalty points on his super licence — a further blow to his record this season.

It’s been a frustrating weekend overall for the 26-year-old Canadian. His struggles continued during Saturday’s qualifying session for the main race, where he was eliminated in Q1 after finishing 18th. The penalty now pushes him to start from the very back of the grid, leaving him with a mountain to climb on race day.

The outcome has sparked renewed discussion among fans and pundits about Stroll’s aggressive driving style, which has at times landed him in trouble with both rivals and stewards. With Aston Martin battling to regain competitiveness in a fiercely contested midfield, the penalty couldn’t have come at a worse time.

As the grid prepares for Sunday’s Grand Prix at COTA, all eyes will be on whether Stroll can recover from his lowly starting position — and whether the chaos of Saturday’s sprint will spill over into the main race. Meanwhile, Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri will resume their intense fight for the championship crown, as Formula 1’s thrilling 2025 season edges ever closer to its climax.

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Hugo Harvey

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