George Russell was awarded a three-place penalty for the United States Grand Prix Sprint after the Stewards ruled that he hindered Charles Leclerc in the Austin Penalty Shootout.
Leclerc was on the fly at SQ1 when he appeared to find Russell on the track coming out of the penultimate corner, with the stewards noting the incident before confirming they would then investigate after the session meeting.
After speaking to both drivers and their team representatives, and reviewing the data and video evidence available to them, stewards felt that Russell could have done more to avoid the situation. this situation and impose a three-place-on-the-net penalty.
This means that when Russell enters the Austin Sprint, he will be demoted from eighth to 11th, with Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Daniel Riccardo being promoted.
“Car 63 entered the final two corners in preparation for the flying lap at the end of SQ1, during which car 16 quickly advanced,” the commissioner’s statement read. “Although the team gave drivers a few seconds advance notice of the approaching car, no further direct information was available before car 63 entered turn 19 with car 16 following closely behind.
“Car 63 did not move from the racing line into or after turn 19, thus unnecessarily obstructing car 16.
“Managers note that regardless of any information from the racing team, the driver has responsibility to ensure no other vehicles are being unnecessarily obstructed.
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