Grid penalties handed out after Race 1 in France

Hitech Grand Prix’s Leonardo Pulcini, Simo Laaksonen of MP Motorsport and HWA RACELAB’s Jake Hughes have been given grid penalties after an eventful Race 1 at Paul Ricard this morning.

Pulcini made contact with the Carlin Buzz Racing machine of Teppei Natori in Turn 1, and the Stewards determined that the Italian was wholly responsible for the collision.

Likewise, the Stewards felt Laaksonen was responsible for colliding with Lirim Zendeli of Sauber Junior Team by Charouz in Turn 8.

The same corner also saw Hughes and PREMA Racing’s Marcus Armstrong make contact while battling for position, with the Stewards deciding that the British driver was at fault.

All three incidents are a breach of Appendix L Chapter IV, Article 2 (d) of the 2019 FIA International Sporting Code, and Pulcini and Laaksonen have been penalised with a five-place grid drop for tomorrow’s Race 2. Hughes has been given a drop of three grid places.