Renault Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon will lose three places on the grid for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone for impeding George Russell.
Ocon has been penalised for “clearly impeding” Russell on the approach to the Brooklands corner in the first segment of qualifying.
The Frenchman was fully aware a penalty would likely be coming after the session, telling race engineer Mark Slade: “That wasn’t good, we’ll get penalised for that.”
Russell, for his part, told his team: “Ocon just massively got in my way, that was mega dangerous”.
“I think it is deserved, it ruined George’s lap. Not well managed from our side” :: Esteban Ocon
The stewards heard from both drivers at the end of qualifying, before issuing their verdict.
It read: “At the exit of Turn 5 [Aintree] Giovinazzi was at the head of three cars and was on an in-lap, Ocon was next, on an out-lap, and Russell was on a flying lap.
“While Russell approached, the team advised Ocon on the radio about [Antonio] Giovinazzi ahead, but didn’t advise about Russell until very late.
“As Russell approached the two cars ahead, Ocon pulled to the right to overtake Giovinazzi and clearly impeded the much faster Russell.
“The team admitted that they did not assist their driver in this instance which led to the impeding.”
Both cars progressed from Q1 despite the incident, before being both eliminated in Q2.
Ocon’s three-place grid penalty will relegate him to 14th, promoting Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz and Romain Grosjean up a place each.
He will thus be starting right ahead of Russell.
Ocon has also picked up a solitary penalty point on his licence, which is his first for the current 12-month period.
He had no objection to the penalty, saying it was “deserved”.
Ocon added: “It’s unfortunate. I was on the out-lap, I was overtaking Giovinazzi but I was not aware that Russell was coming so I got the penalty.
“I think it is deserved, it ruined George’s lap.
“Not well managed from our side.”
