Sato receives grid drop penalty for Baku Sprint Race 1

Marino Sato experienced a difficult start to Round 3, as the Japanese driver hit the wall at Turn 15 in this morning’s Free Practice at the Baku City Circuit, which resulted in severe damage to the right front suspension of his Trident.

Instead of parking his car at the Turn 16 extract point, he continued to drive to the pitlane while passing five potential car extraction points. In doing so, the Stewards determined that he created a potential safety hazard for all other cars in the session.

As a consequence, Sato has been handed a three-place grid drop for the next race, which will take place tomorrow at 11.25 local time.