Alex Albon enjoys Miami escape despite pit lane 'misinterpretation'

Williams driver Alex Albon has escaped a second penalty of the day following what the Miami Grand Prix stewards have described as "a misinterpretation".

Albon was stripped of his fourth-place finish in the sprint due to a safety car infringement. Following an incident in qualifying at the Miami International Autodrome, it appeared another penalty would follow.

In the rush out of the pits at the start of the session, Albon barged his way into the queue, emerging ahead of Isack Hadjar's Racing Bulls machine. 

Albon did not have a wheel over the white line that demarcates the fast lane of the pit lane, and was promptly placed under investigation, which was carried out after he qualified seventh.

The stewards felt there were mitigating circumstances and only handed Albon a non-driving reprimand, his first of the season.

A stewards' report read: "The stewards determine that at the time car 23 [Albon] entered the fast lane, there was no suitable gap to blend in.

"The car had not entered the fast lane with a wheel when pulling out of the garage and therefore was not entitled to blend into the line of cars that had already formed there.

"The stewards acknowledge that the mechanic tried to stop the driver from going, but the driver misinterpreted the signal from the mechanic and pulled into the fast lane.

"It is also noted that the way car 23 entered the fast lane was not dangerous and therefore a reprimand to the driver is deemed appropriate.

"As the incident occurred in the pit lane at very low speed and not while racing on track, a non-driving reprimand is issued."