FIA causes a stir with late Bahrain GP grid demotion

The FIA has confirmed Nico Hulkenberg will start the Bahrain Grand Prix in P16 after confusion in qualifying. The Stake driver made it through to Q2 in P15 with a lap time that was later deleted for a track limits violation at Turn 11. However, because it was not reported to the stewards until after Q2 was underway, Alex Albon was eliminated incorrectly from the first session. Following the correction, the Williams driver inherits P15 on the grid. As outlined by the FIA in the official decision document: "The lap time of 1:31.998 of Car 27 recorded in Q1 is deleted. All lap times of Car 27 in Q2 are deleted. Car 27 will therefore be classified in position 16 in Qualifying." It gave the following reasoning to explain what happened: "The Stewards heard from the team representative and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, and video evidence. "During Q1, Car 27 clearly exceeded track limits in turn 11. However this was not reported to the Stewards until Q2 had commenced. "Car 27’s time recorded on the lap that track limits were exceeded, was sufficient to place it in Q2. Hence at the time the Stewards were informed that Car 27 had breached the Race Directors Event Notes and that its lap should have been deleted, it was already on track in Q2. "As this is an unusual situation, the Stewards have decided to settle the matter by exercising their authority under Article 11.9.2.a of the FIA International Sporting Code."