Maximilian Günther penalised

During today’s FIA Formula 2 Feature Race at the Red Bull Ring, and after Maximilian Günther was released from his mandatory pit stop, his car drove over an air line in the adjacent pit of Campos Vexatec Racing and dragged that hose down a portion of the pit lane, knocking down a mechanic from the Spanish team.

After the race, the Stewards considered that Car #11 was released from its pit box into the pit lane with adequate clearance at the time of the release.

Meanwhile, Louis Delétraz and Alexander Albon were also released from pit boxes upstream of BWT Arden’s pit position. Due to a difference in reaction times, clutch release, and wheel spin, all three cars arrived in the vicinity of Günther’s pit exit at approximately the same time.

Through commendable driving on the part of all three racers, no contact was made between the three cars and no sporting advantages were gained or lost. However, the German driver was forced so close to Campos’ pit that it ran over an air line which was dragged down the pit lane, knocking one of the Spainsh team’s mechanic, but fortunately causing no serious injury.

It was noted by the Stewards that the black air line was laying on a black painted area of the pit lane, making it all but invisible to Günther who was trying to avoid a pit lane collision.

As a consequence, a 20 second time penalty was added to Günther’s elapsed time, equivalent to the stop and go penalty that would have likely been assessed during the race had the right video been available at that time.

Günther who had finished P12 of the Feature Race now classifies P15.