Why Alex Albon has been called to FIA stewards for strange practice error

Alex Albon has been summoned to the FIA stewards at the Chinese Grand Prix for allegedly performing a practice start on the grid whilst another car was stationary.

The incident occurred at the end of the only practice session at the Shanghai International Circuit, and constitutes a potential breach of article B4.2.2c of the FIA F1 Regulations.

The Williams driver reported to the officials at 13:00 local time, half an hour after the end of the sole hour of preparation before sprint qualifying later on Friday afternoon.

He finished the session down in P16, as the team's difficult start to the season continued. Carlos Sainz, in the other FW48, did not get any representative running until the final 30 minutes, leaving him severely on the back foot.

The car is believed to be considerably overweight, and with the Mercedes power unit customers not yet able to extract the same level of performance as their supplier, the Grove-based squad has lost ground from its fifth-place finish in the F1 constructors' championship last year.

The team has been clear that returning to the front of the midfield could take the better part of the campaign, as the project to update and upgrade its facilities and infrastructure continues under team principal James Vowles.

Having won the constructors' title nine times, the once-great outfit has slipped down the F1 pecking order in recent years.