Daniel Ricciardo handed a three-place grid drop for speeding under red flag conditions during FP2.
The Australian ended the session 7th. He didn’t finish his best lap when the red flags were out for debris on the circuit. He also received two penalty points on his licence for the offence.
Having reviewed video and data evidence and spoken to Ricciardo, the stewards determined that while the Red Bull driver did slow significantly in the final turns. An error in reading his dash meant he still completed the lap too quickly.
The FIA confirmed that these circumstances resulted in Ricciardo issued with a more lenient penalty than usually would be meted out.
“Article 31.6 was added [to the rules] this year to ensure that drivers reduce speed sufficiently during a red flag, read a statement issued by race stewards. Breach of this regulation is an extremely serious matter.
However the Stewards thoroughly reviewed the breach and found that the driver slowed significantly. Such that no danger was created, and that the driver proceeded with due care. The Stewards are imposing a lesser penalty than usual. And they impose a 3 grid place penalty and two penalty points.”
Kimi Raikkonen, meanwhile, escaped punishment for his run-in with Valtteri Bottas in FP2. Bottas caught the slow-moving Raikkonen on the run into Turn 3 early in the second practice session.
The Mercedes driver locking up taking to the gravel to avoid the Ferrari. The stewards determined that it was not “unnecessary impeding”, which means Raikkonen avoids a penalty.
