Haas penalised after Hulkenberg double summons

The Haas Formula 1 team has been reprimanded after Nico Hulkenberg was called to see the stewards twice in Austria.

During qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, Hulkenberg was noted during Q1 and Q2 for allegedly entering the fast lane when there was no suitable gap. 

Haas has been punished for its haste to bring Hulkenberg into the queue during Q1 as the stewards noted that their hurry was “due to the fact that the team garage is at the end of the pit lane and in a position in which cars regularly slow down to make a gap to cars in front” and that “it is difficult for the team to judge when there is a suitable gap to send the car to the fast lane. 

“In this particular case there appeared to be a suitable gap at the moment the car was released from the garage, but the gap disappeared because cars were queuing in front of the team garage. 

“This is considered as mitigating circumstances and therefore only a reprimand to the team is imposed.

“The Stewards also note that the onus of blending into the fast lane at the right time cannot be put on the driver in this case as he was directed by a team member”.

However, Haas avoided a punishment for the second alleged infringement.

“The Stewards determined that at the time Car 27 entered the fast lane there was no suitable gap to blend in,” it was explained. 

“However, this was caused by another car stopping right in front of Car 27 at the moment the driver wanted to do so. 

“The Stewards conclude that the driver started to merge into the fast lane anticipating that there would be a suitable gap but this was prevented by the other car stopping at exactly this moment. 

“Therefore no further action is taken.”