JUST IN: FIA announce F1 champion penalty verdict after Las Vegas GP inci...

FIA announce F1 champion penalty verdict after Las Vegas Grand Prix incident

The FIA has issued its verdict on a penalty involving a former Formula 1 champion following an incident during the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The decision comes after a thrilling round of qualifying that saw the top teams, including McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and reigning world champion Max Verstappen, fiercely compete for pole position. However, it was Mercedes who stood out as the team to beat in Las Vegas, as both of their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, showcased impressive pace throughout the practice and qualifying sessions.

For much of Thursday and Friday, Mercedes looked dominant, with both Hamilton and Russell leading the timesheets. Despite the competition from the likes of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s Lando Norris, it was the younger Mercedes driver, George Russell, who stole the spotlight. Russell delivered a stellar lap during the final stages of qualifying, clinching pole position for the race. His performance placed him ahead of Ferrari’s Sainz, who had also shown strong pace but could not match the speed of the Mercedes.

While Mercedes celebrated a front-row start, things were less smooth for other top drivers. Sergio Perez of Red Bull, along with the Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, experienced difficult qualifying sessions. Perez, who has faced several challenges this season in his bid to match the form of teammate Verstappen, was unable to find the pace needed to contend at the front, leaving him with a disappointing grid position.

Aston Martin’s problems were even more pronounced, particularly for Lance Stroll. The Canadian driver’s qualifying session was compromised after an engine issue during FP3 led to a red flag. The team scrambled to repair Stroll’s car in time for the all-important qualifying session, but their efforts ultimately fell short. Despite making it onto the track, Stroll struggled for speed and ended up posting the slowest time in Q1, meaning he would start the race from the back of the grid.

Fernando Alonso, Stroll’s teammate at Aston Martin, also had a challenging weekend. Following the FP3 session, Alonso was summoned to the stewards over a pit lane infringement. According to the FIA’s report, the two-time world champion exceeded the pit lane speed limit by a mere 1.3km/h, breaching Article 34.7 of the F1 sporting regulations. Fortunately for Alonso, the penalty was relatively minor. Instead of facing a grid drop or a harsher sporting penalty, the Aston Martin team was handed a €200 fine for the infraction.

This penalty decision will come as a relief to Alonso and the team, as they aim to end the season on a strong note. Despite the difficulties in qualifying, Alonso remains a key figure on the grid, consistently showing flashes of brilliance throughout the year. However, with both Aston Martin cars starting from the back end of the grid in Las Vegas, the race is likely to be a tough challenge for the team.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix qualifying has set up an exciting race, with Mercedes and Ferrari at the front and several drivers looking to recover from poor starting positions. George Russell’s pole position, along with the penalty verdict for Alonso, adds further intrigue to the weekend as the teams prepare for what is expected to be a highly competitive race under the lights In Las Vegas.