Alex Albon and Liam Lawson penalized, Miami GP sprint results reshuffled
Miami GP Sprint Chaos: Albon and Lawson Stripped of Points in Dramatic Post-Race Penalties
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Drama unfolded at the Miami GP sprint race as Alex Albon and Liam Lawson saw their points-finishing positions wiped clean, courtesy of penalties stemming from separate incidents that brought a chaotic conclusion to Saturday's event. The revised leaderboard shook up the standings, altering the landscape heading into Sunday's main race.
Strong Performances Undone by Penalties
Initially impressing with standout performances, Albon crossed the line in fourth and Lawson in seventh, earning accolades for their efforts in the shortened 18-lap contest. However, post-race investigations by the stewards resulted in five-second penalties for both drivers, dropping them outside of the top eight—the threshold for points under the sprint format.
The adjusted finishing order now places George Russell in fourth, followed by Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Pierre Gasly, all moving up as a result of the penalties.
Lawson's Incident with Alonso
The sprint's closing stages were marked by high tension as drivers navigated a drying track, necessitating rare pit stops in such a condensed race format. The drama reached a crescendo when Lawson made contact with Fernando Alonso, sending the Aston Martin veteran into the barriers.
Stewards deemed Lawson "predominantly at fault" for the Turn 11 incident, citing a breach of the Driving Standards Guidelines. The verdict read:
"Car 30 was attempting an overtake on the outside of Car 14 into Turn 11. Although being able to pull fully alongside, the front axle of Car 30 was not ahead of the front axle of Car 14 at the apex as required per the Driving Standards Guidelines. Therefore Car 30 was not entitled to be given room at the exit."
Consequently, Lawson received a five-second penalty, demoting him to 13th place. In addition, the rookie was issued one penalty point on his super license—a notable repercussion as drivers accumulate points over time, potentially leading to bans.
Albon’s Penalty During Safety Car
While Lawson’s penalty was tied to race incidents, Alex Albon found himself under scrutiny for his behavior during the safety car period in the race's final laps. Regulations require drivers to maintain a minimum delta time for safety purposes, but Albon was found to have exceeded time limits in three consecutive sectors, prompting stewards to impose a five-second penalty.
However, it was noted that Albon did not act maliciously, with the verdict clarifying:
"The driver of Car 23 was below the minimum time set in the ECU in three consecutive sectors at the beginning of the Safety Car period, which is in breach of Art. 55.7 of the Sporting Regulations. Therefore the standard penalty is applied. The Stewards note that the track conditions were not ideal and that no unsafe or dangerous situation was created by the driver and therefore do not issue any penalty points."
Albon’s penalty dropped him to 11th, leaving him without points from the sprint despite his earlier impressive outing.
Uncertainty Looms Over Appeals
While both drivers have the option to appeal their respective penalties, under the parameters set by the FIA's International Sporting Code and Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, it remains unclear whether their teams will pursue further recourse.
Focus Shifts to Sunday's Grand Prix
Saturday’s sprint may have been marred by penalties and late-lap chaos, but with the grand prix still ahead, the focus will now shift toward redemption for both Albon and Lawson. Fans are left wondering whether their tenacity will translate into headlines in Sunday's main event or if the penalties will leave a lasting impact on their momentum.
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