formula 1
Starting place penalties for Russell, Gasly and Ocon
Mercedes driver George Russell is suspended in Brazil. photo
© Toru Hanai/AP/dpa
The British Mercedes driver George Russell has been moved two places back on the grid for the São Paulo Grand Prix.
The British Mercedes driver George Russell has been moved back two places on the grid for the São Paulo Grand Prix as a penalty.
The 25-year-old last year’s winner will therefore start the race on Sunday (6 p.m. CET/Sky) on the Interlagos circuit from eighth place. In the qualification on Friday – the last sprint of the year is scheduled for Saturday – Russell took sixth place. He received the penalty because he had hindered the French Alpine pilot Pierre Gasly in the pit lane during the knockout.
However, a penalty of two places down was also imposed on Gasly and his compatriot and teammate Esteban Ocon for the same offense. Gasly moves from starting position 13 to 15, Ocon from 12 to 14.