Eight Formula 1 drivers have been called to see the stewards ahead of qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix. (Story updated, see bottom).
Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, Albon and Carlos Sainz were summoned to the stewards at 14:00 local Monza time, while Nicholas Latifi, Romain Grosjean, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton were called for a meeting 10 minutes later.
The drivers are being spoken to for “alleged driving unnecessarily slowly in Turn 11”, which would be a breach of Article 31.5 of Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations.
Traffic has been a problem for many drivers throughout the Italian GP weekend, as drivers look to benefit from a slipstream and not provide one for a rival behind.
At last year’s qualifying session, most cars failed to set a final lap time in Q3 after crossing the line too late as they all stumbled over each other on the warm-up lap.
For the 2020 event, the FIA introduced a minimum lap time at Monza that is being used as a guide in order to stop the drivers from getting in each other’s way.
However, at the end of FP3, Hamilton had a near-miss with the Haas of Grosjean at the final Parabolica corner, with the former being forced to take to the grass at high speed.
After Formula 3’s chaotic qualifying session on Friday, nine drivers were dished out grid penalties for impeding fellow competitors on hot laps.
The FIA has decided to take no further action.
