Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, and Franco Colapinto have all been hit with penalties for the Qatar GP Sprint, adding another layer of chaos to an already tense weekend at Lusail.
The Qatar Grand Prix weekend has taken another dramatic turn as multiple drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, have been hit with penalties ahead of the Sprint race.
Initially reported by Motor Sport Magazine’s F1 journalist Chris Medland, Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, and Franco Colapinto will all start the Sprint from the pit lane after breaking parc fermé regulations to make car changes.
The infringement triggers an automatic penalty, forcing each affected driver to give up their grid positions and line up at the end of the pit lane when the lights go out.
The official FIA document noted, “Scuderia Ferrari HP changed the setup of the suspension of Car 44 under Parc Ferme without the approval of the Technical Delegate, this not being in accordance with Article 40.9 b) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations. Car 44 is therefore required to start the Sprint from pit lane.”
