Gasly handed three-place grid penalty after impeding Stroll in qualifying

Pierre Gasly has been handed a three-place grid penalty following an impeding incident involving Lance Stroll during the first phase of qualifying at Silverstone.

According to the stewards, Stroll was on a flying lap while Gasly was returning to the pits. As the pair approached Turn 15, Gasly remained on the racing line at reduced speed, forcing the Aston Martin driver to leave the racing line to pass him. Gasly explained after the session that his team radio was not working at the time. He said he was attempting a radio check and believed the car behind was Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who he thought was not on a flying lap. Alpine also stated that Gasly did not receive the usual warning from the team because of a technical issue with the FOM communication system, a point confirmed during the hearing.

While the stewards accepted that the incident resulted from unfortunate circumstances and acknowledged the radio failure, they stressed that drivers remain responsible for avoiding impeding others regardless of communication issues.

They also concluded that Gasly had sufficient information available, including data displayed on his steering wheel, to recognise that Stroll was approaching on a flying lap.

Gasly had originally qualified 12th but will now line up 15th on the grid after serving the standard three-place penalty.