The result of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix has changed because of a post-race penalty. The stewards have found one racer guilty of breaking the rules around yellow flags. It was the same alleged rule breach that winner Lewis Hamilton was investigated for during the race, though it was eventually decided that he had slowed enough after Fernando Alonso pulled over with a problem.
However, another racer did not and the stewards have taken action. They have handed out a 10-second penalty and a licence point to Franco Colapinto. And that is consequential to the final classification of the race, which the Argentine had finished in eighth place but, with his penalty applied, he has been dropped to 10th.
It means three fewer points scored for Colapinto and his Alpine team. It is also great news for Racing Bulls, their rivals for top spot in the midfield battle in the constructors’ championship. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad had finished ninth and 10th on the road and both have now risen a place as a result of Colapinto’s punishment.
Explaining their decision, the stewards noted that the Argentine had slowed, but not enough to their satisfaction. They wrote: “The driver of Car 43 [Colapinto] slightly reduced speed before entering the single yellow flag zone, but did not discernibly reduce speed in the relevant yellow flag sector.
“The stewards acknowledge that the driver reacted to the yellow flag but do not consider the reaction to be sufficient to comply with the regulations. Therefore a penalty on the lower end of the applicable scale of penalties is imposed.”
Kimi Antonelli was also given a five-second time penalty for too many track limits infringements. It proved not to be at all consequential, though, as the championship leader pulled over at the side of the track with four laps to go, his Mercedes having suffered an engine failure. Still, the stewards needed to observe procedure and confirmed the punishment for the Italian teenager.
Commenting on a slightly unusual case, the stewards said: “Car 12 [Antonelli] left the track four times during the race without justifiable reason. The stewards acknowledge that the driver did not receive a black/white flag after his third infringement but rather after his fourth infringement as one earlier infringement was only detected later in the race.
“However, based on the current regulations and Driving Standards Guidelines, this does not exempt the driver from complying with the regulations. As there might be some ambiguity in the relevant guidelines, the stewards recommend the FIA revisit the current procedures and guidelines as soon as possible.”