Italian GP: Haas' Kevin Magnussen faces race ban following penalties

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Magnussen incurred a race ban after accumulating penalty points.

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen has been handed a one-race suspension following a collision with Pierre Gasly at the Italian Grand Prix. This incident pushed Magnussen's total to 12 penalty points within a 12-month period, triggering the automatic suspension rule defined by Formula 1 regulations. Consequently, Magnussen will miss the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

Incident near Turn 4

The collision occurred at Turn 4, where Magnussen attempted an inside pass on Alpine's Gasly. The stewards deemed Magnussen to be wholly responsible for the incident, issuing him a 10-second in-race penalty. Despite this penalty, Magnussen managed to finish 10th, securing a single championship point.

"On the approach to Turn 4, Car 20 [Magnussen] attempted to overtake Car 10 [Gasly] on the inside," the stewards' statement reads. "Whilst Car 20 had its front axle past the mirror of Car 10, the Driving Standards Guidelines specify that an overtaking car has to 'be driven in a safe and controlled manner throughout the manoeuvre'. The stewards determined that this was not the case for Car 20, and hence the driver was wholly to blame for the collision and hence the standard penalty and penalty points are allocated."

Magnussen expressed his confusion and frustration over the penalty. "Yeah, I'm frustrated about the penalty -- I don't understand it at all. Flat out, just completely confused," he said. "We raced hard into Turn 4, we had slight contact and we both missed the corner, we came back on track again, no damage to either car, no consequence in the race for either of us and I get a 10-second penalty."

When informed about the two extra penalty points, Magnussen responded, "I only know I have the two points from you, I haven't heard it officially. But I said all the time I am not going to hold back, it doesn't make sense. I scored a point today, so see you later."

First suspension under new system

Magnussen becomes the first F1 driver to be suspended under the penalty points system introduced in 2014. F1 rules mandate a superlicence suspension for any driver who accumulates 12 penalty points within a year.

Haas has yet to announce who will replace Magnussen for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However, Formula 2 driver Oliver Bearman is a likely candidate. Bearman, who is already slated to replace Magnussen next year, has prior experience filling in for Ferrari's Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia due to Sainz's appendicitis.

As Formula 1 heads towards Baku, the spotlight will be on Haas and their decision on Magnussen’s replacement, while Magnussen himself serves his suspension and reflects on a challenging season marked by penalties and frustrations.

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