Several drivers penalised post Spa-Francorchamps Qualifying

Following the conclusion of FIA Formula 2 Qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, several drivers have been handed penalties.

Firstly, Noel León has had all his times deleted from Qualifying for breaching Article 33.5 of the FIA Formula 2 Sporting Regulations.

Early in Qualifying, the Campos Racing driver spun into a stop at Turn 5 which brought out the Red Flags. After the session, the Stewards heard from both the driver and a team representative and also examined available video evidence.

They determined that León had been the sole cause of the Red Flag as there were no external circumstances that contributed to the spin.

As a result of León having not set a lap time prior to the Red Flag, the Stewards are unable to delete the fastest lap.

Given the unique circumstances, the Stewards determined that they could not immediately hold León responsible and permitted him to continue, and it was his choice to do so knowing that all his times could be invalidated.

The Stewards therefore decided to invalidate all of the lap times set by Car 5 after the Red Flag was issued.

Having qualified in P10, those that ended the session behind the Campos driver will be promoted up once place each on both grids.

León has been given permission to start both races behind the classified drivers in the Sprint and Feature Races after not having a laptime within 107%.

Secondly, Emerson Fititipaldi has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement.

The Stewards heard from both Fittipaldi and an AIX team representative, and examined available mini sector timing data along with video evidence and determined that Car 20 had failed to comply with the requirement to reduce speed in a double yellow flag zone, breaching Article 2.5.5 (b) of the FIA International Sporting Code.

Subsequently, Car 20 has been assigned a 10-place grid penalty. He will serve the penalty in both the Sprint and Feature Races for this weekend.

Additionally, Rafael Villagómez has also been five-place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement.

The Stewards heard from Villagómez and a team representative and determined that the driver of Car 23 failed to comply with the requirement to reduce speed under single and double yellow flags, breaching Article 2.5.5 (b) of the FIA International Sporting Code.

They examined video and GPS evidence, with mini sector timing data revealing the VAR driver had not lifted off the throttle, therefore, failing to comply with the requirements set out in the regulations.

As a result, the Stewards elected to apply a five-place grid penalty for both the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint and Feature Race.

Finally, Cian Shields has also been handed a grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement.

After the session, the Stewards heard from Shields and a team representative and determined that the driver of Car 21 failed to comply with the requirement to reduce speed under both single and double yellow flags, breaching Article 2.5.5 (b) of the FIA International Sporting Code.

They examined video and GPS evidence, with mini sector timing data revealing the AIX driver remained at full throttle and did not make any meaningful reduction in speed while passing through a double yellow flag sector.

As a result, the Stewards elected to apply a 10-place grid penalty for both the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint and Feature Race.