Several drivers handed post-Qualifying penalties at Spa-Francorchamps

Following today’s FIA Formula 3 Qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps, multiple drivers have been penalised.

Firstly, Tuukka Taponen has been given a three-place grid penalty.

The ART Grand Prix driver was reported for impeding cars on the racing line approaching Turn 18.

The Stewards examined video evidence and spoke with the driver and a team representative before determining that Taponen had driven at a marginally slower pace on the racing line for around nine seconds.

This Stewards found this to be in breach of the Race Director’s Event Notes and as a result, Taponen has been handed a three-place grid penalty to be served at the next race in which he participates in.

Lastly, Sophia Floersch, Sami Meguetounif, Charlie Wurz, Mari Boya, and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak have also been handed grid penalties after they were found to have left the track and gained an advantage during Qualifying.

After a post-session investigation by the Race Stewards, where they examined video evidence and spoke separately to all the drivers involved and their respective team representatives, it was determined that they had all gone off track in the final minute of Qualifying, overtaking several cars in the process to gain a better position for their fast laps.

The Stewards found that they had done this without a justifiable reason and since it is in breach of the regulations, they have given all five drivers a three-place grid penalty.

They are set to serve this penalty at the next race in which they participate.