Esteban Ocon learns stewards' verdict over 'erratic driving' in Canadian GP

Esteban Ocon has not been punished by the stewards at the Canadian Grand Prix for driving erratically at pit exit during the late-race safety car.

The Haas driver, like many others, had pitted for fresh tyres after Lando Norris crashed into Oscar Piastri, and was about to re-enter the track at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when he appeared to brake heavily and suddenly.

This almost caught out Carlos Sainz behind, who had to take to the grass to avoid hitting the back of the Frenchman.

The Williams driver took to team radio to accuse Ocon of "braking testing" him en route to the pair finishing ninth and tenth, respectively.

Officials called both drivers before them to explain the situation, with Ocon found not of breaching Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2 e) of the FIA's International Sporting Code.

Ocon explained to the stewards that he had been informed of a double yellow zone, resulting in him taking swift action by slowing down. 

The stewards' agreed with Ocon's explanation of the incident, with its report having read: "The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 31 (Esteban Ocon), the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing, telemetry and in-car video evidence. 

"During a Safety Car period Car 31 was in the pit exit road with Car 55 following some distance behind. As Car 31 approached turn 2 (still inside the pit exit road), it slowed and Car 55 nearly collided with the rear of Car 31 and had to take evasive action by driving onto the grass. The driver of Car 55 said that he was taken by surprise by more aggressive braking by Car 31 than he had expected. 

"The driver of Car 31 explained that he braked where he did because he heard an audible warning of a double yellow zone and a double yellow delta warning appeared on his wheel. Positioning data confirmed that the area between turns 1 and 2 was a double yellow sector. 

"In the circumstances we were satisfied that Car 31 was legitimately reducing speed to comply with the double yellow delta and therefore the driver’s actions were not erratic or potentially dangerous and he was not driving unnecessarily slowly."