Hamilton and Hulkenberg faced stewards after the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying.
- Hamilton’s maneuvering in the pit lane sparked an investigation.
- Hulkenberg was scrutinized for breaching race instructions twice.
- Both cases concluded with different penalties for the teams involved.
- Their qualifying efforts were unaffected amidst the chaos.
In the midst of the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying session, two prominent Formula 1 drivers found themselves under scrutiny. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, was investigated following allegations of an unsafe release. As he exited the Mercedes garage, pit equipment—a jack and an exhaust extractor—were dragged along, albeit without causing any harm. Fortunately for Hamilton, immediate action by the team prevented any mishaps.
Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg, driving for Haas, was called in for allegedly not adhering to the race director’s marked instructions several times. His conduct in the pit lane forced drivers like Alex Albon and Sergio Perez to pause while he maneuvered out of the garage. This led to a team reprimand by the stewards. Hulkenberg’s day had additional troubles as he had previously been penalized with a 10-second penalty and two penalty points for an earlier infringement involving Fernando Alonso during the Sprint session.
The FIA did not let these matters slide without consequences. Mercedes received a €5,000 fine for Hamilton’s minor transgression, highlighting the importance of adhering to pit lane protocols. On the other hand, the reprimand for Haas was specifically targeted at Hulkenberg’s actions that impacted Albon.
In terms of the qualifying results, Hamilton still managed to keep his cool and secure a fifth-place start for Sunday’s race. As for Hulkenberg, his resilience showed as he propelled his Haas into Q3, earning a respectable ninth position on the grid. Max Verstappen swept in to take pole position, reinforcing Red Bull’s formidable presence in the championship race.
Ultimately, despite the stewards’ interventions, both drivers maintained their grid positions for the race.
