News
Following the conclusion of FIA Formula 3 Qualifying at Monza, several drivers have been handed grid penalties.
11 drivers from Group A have received a grid drop of four positions for the same infringement, relating to driving unnecessarily slowly between Turns 6 and 7.
Trident’s Leonardo Fornaroli, PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Minì, AIX Racing’s Joshua Dufek and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, Campos Racing’s Mari Boya and Noah Stromsted, Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Luke Browning as well as Rodin Motorsport’s Piotr Wisnicki, Van Amersfoort Racing's Noel León and Tommy Smith, and Jenzer Motorsport’s Max Esterson have all been awarded a four-place grid drop.
Following a post-session hearing with the Stewards and having heard from all the drivers involved barring the driver of Car 30, it was determined that all of the aforementioned drivers had decided to slow in an effort to fall behind another car to gain a tow, and that directly led to the collision between Cars 24 and 8 of Laurens van Hoepen and Kacper Sztuka.
The Stewards acknowledged that, while drivers may need to slow at times to avoid impeding another driver, it was determined that it was unnecessary for the drivers to have slowed to that extent.
As a result, each of them has been assigned the same four-place penalty that will be applied at the next race in which each of them competes.
Christian Mansell has also received a three-place grid penalty. The ART Grand Prix driver was judged to have impeded Car 1 of Dino Beganovic at Turn 11 during the Group B Qualifying session.
After examining available video evidence and hearing from the drivers and team representatives, the Stewards determined that Car 1 was unnecessarily impeded by the ART driver.
As a result, Mansell has been awarded a three-place grid penalty that he will serve at the next race in which he competes.
Nikola Tsolov has also received a three-place grid penalty. The ART driver was found to have impeded Car 21, Van Amersfoort Racing’s Sophia Floersch.
After hearing from both drivers along with their team representatives as well as examining video evidence, the Stewards determined that Tsolov had unnecessarily impeded Car 21 between Turns 10 and 11.
Tsolov will also serve his three-place penalty at the next race in which he competes.
MP Motorsport driver Kacper Sztuka has also been handed a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Laurens van Hoepen during Qualifying.
The Stewards examined video evidence and spoke to both drivers and their Team Representatives before determining that Sztuka had slowed down significantly on the racing line, surprising van Hoepen, and causing the collision between the pair.
As a result, Sztuka has been handed a five-place grid drop that he will serve at the next race in which he competes.