Both of the Haas F1 Team drivers were penalised after an infringing on rules during the Formation lap at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend.
Despite Kevin Magnussen pulling the Haas into the points, himself and team-mate Romain Grosjean were both handed ten-second time penalties after the race by the stewards at the Hungaroring.
Both Haas drivers were called into the pits on the formation lap as Magnussen had started on the extreme wet weather compound and Grosjean had started on the intermediate tyres. But the team called them in to switch their tyres to slicks despite the Hungaroring still being damp due to the rainfall prior to the race.
After the race, there was doubt as to whether Haas would be able to keep their first points of the season, as Magnussen cross the line in ninth place ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr. The stewards announced that both Haas drivers and Alexander Albon had been called to the stewards as they were under investigation
The investigation centred on Article 27.1 of the sporting regulations, which states that the “driver must drive the car alone and unaided”, and limits the radio instructions drivers can receive. The move to call the drivers into the pits was deemed to have broken the rules. However, if the driver’s themselves had made the call, it would have been okay.
“Having considered the matter extensively, the Stewards determined that the team instructed the driver to pit,” the FIA bulletin reads. “The team could not prove that one of the exemptions made under paragraph A. 2. a) to g) of the Technical Directive 011-17 was applicable.
“Therefore, the Stewards consider there is breach of Art. 27.1 of the Sporting Regulations, that the driver must drive the car alone and unaided.”
The penalty meant that Magnussen was demoted into tenth place, making him now behind Sainz in the McLaren F1 Team car. Grosjean’s ten second penalty left him behind Kimi Räikkönen in the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN.
Even though the team received the penalty, they were still able to get off the mark for points. The point means they now find themselves ahead of Williams Racing in ninth.
