Four drivers will face a visit to the stewards following the Chinese Grand Prix.
Stake duo Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Alex Albon of Williams, and Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda have all been cited for failing to follow the instructions of race director Rui Marques, notably a practice start infringement.
In the pre-event notes from Marques, it specifically states that “practice starts may only be carried out on the asphalt on the RHS [right-hand side] of the pit exit before the end of the pit wall and, for the avoidance of doubt, this includes any time the pit exit is open for the sprint and the race”.
The four drivers concerned have clearly flouted this rule. It is now a question of whether they have a reasonable explanation for doing so.
Tsunoda starts ninth at the Shanghai International Circuit, with Albon 10th, whilst Hulkenberg and Bortoleto line up 12th and 19th.
