BREAKING NEWS: F1 star disqualified from Azerbaijan GP qualifying as results…read more
F1 star disqualified from Azerbaijan GP qualifying as results…read more
Pierre Gasly has been disqualified from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying session after his Alpine car was found in violation of fuel flow regulations. The French driver had originally secured a 13th-place start but was penalized after post-qualifying inspections revealed that his car had exceeded the maximum allowed fuel flow rate, an issue that has since changed the qualifying results.
The issue was flagged during routine technical checks after the session, prompting the stewards to investigate Gasly’s Alpine machine. Initially, Gasly had positioned himself between AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg. However, due to the breach, Gasly will now be sent to the back of the grid for Sunday’s race, dealing a significant blow to both him and the Alpine team.
According to the FIA, the violation occurred during Gasly’s final timed lap in Q2. The stewards’ report noted that the fuel flow rate had exceeded the permitted 100 kilograms per hour, a technical fault that Alpine could not dispute. The team acknowledged the error but explained that it was the result of an unexpected short-term technical fault that caused a brief but excessive fuel flow. Despite the explanation, the FIA held firm on its regulations, stating that any breach of technical rules would result in disqualification, regardless of whether the team gained any performance advantage from the violation.
In their statement, the FIA referenced Article 1.3.3 of the International Sporting Code, which makes it clear that even if a team does not gain a competitive advantage from a technical breach, the penalty is still enforced. “If an Automobile is found not to comply with the applicable technical regulations, it shall be no defence to claim that no performance advantage was obtained,” the FIA explained. The governing body also pointed out that this rule has long been upheld by the International Court of Appeal. Consequently, Gasly and his team were disqualified from the qualifying session.
The disqualification marks another setback in what has been a challenging weekend for Alpine. Earlier in the day, Gasly’s teammate, Esteban Ocon, encountered his own set of problems during the third practice session (FP3). Ocon’s car suffered from a power unit issue, which brought out a red flag and interrupted the session. Later, during his final attempt in Q1, Ocon crashed into the wall, compounding Alpine’s woes.
With Gasly’s disqualification, several other drivers are set to benefit from their revised positions on the grid. Lando Norris, who had been caught out by a yellow flag during Q1, initially finished in a disappointing 17th place. However, he will now be moved up to 16th as a result of Gasly’s penalty. This small gain may help Norris as he seeks to turn his weekend around in the race.
Another driver impacted by the reshuffling is Zhou Guanyu. Zhou had initially qualified 19th but was set to be bumped up to 18th due to Gasly’s disqualification. However, Zhou’s own issues earlier in the weekend, including the installation of two new engine components, have resulted in him being sent to the back of the grid, leaving his starting position unchanged despite the disqualification of Gasly.
While the more experienced drivers had difficult Saturdays, some of the younger talents on the grid made an impression. Franco Colapinto outqualified his more seasoned teammate, Alex Albon, securing a commendable ninth place on the starting grid. Colapinto’s performance will be closely watched, as he continues to prove his potential. Similarly, Oliver Bearman, another rookie, will start in 11th place, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, showing that the newcomers are ready to challenge the veterans of the sport.
As the Azerbaijan Grand Prix approaches, these revised positions add further intrigue to what promises to be an exciting race. Gasly’s disqualification has not only shaken up the grid but also highlighted the stringent enforcement of the FIA’s technical regulations. With the Alpine team facing difficulties on multiple fronts, they will be looking to regroup and make the best of a challenging situation on race day.
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