Austrian Grand Prix result to change as F1 faces 'unprecedented' scenario

02 July 2023 , 16:05

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The podium after the Austrian Grand Prix (Image: AP)

The result of the Austrian Grand Prix has changed after a successful protest from Aston Martin.

A swathe of fresh penalties were handed out hours after the conclusion of the race for repeated track limits violations, which saw several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, swap places in the final classification.

A hearing was held at 5.30pm UK time, after which the Formula 1 stewards took their time to deliberate. Eventually, it was announced that 83 lap times had been retroactively deleted, resulting in 12 new penalties for eight different drivers.

As well as Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon (4), Logan Sargeant, Nyck de Vries (2) and Yuki Tsunoda were punished. That meant several changes to the final classification of the race, which you can view by clicking here.

An FIA statement read: "Regarding the track limits infringements at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, we note that due to the specifics of the circuit layout and the propensity of many drivers to repeatedly drive outside of the boundaries of the track.

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"An unprecedented situation arose which resulted in all potential infringements not being able to be reviewed during the race. Prior to the submission of a Protest against the result, we had already begun a full review of the track limits infringements, which is ongoing.

"During the Grand Prix, Race Control was tasked with reviewing well over 1,200 instances where a car was reported as potentially leaving the track. The results will be updated once the review of those which were not able to be reviewed during the race is complete."

The FIA is reviewing more than 1,200 potential track limits violations from the Austrian Grand Prix (Getty Images)

The review into those potential track limits violations is under way. Even though it has not yet been completed, the stewards said in a separate document that Aston Martin's protest had been upheld, suggesting that evidence had been verified that some fresh penalties should be handed out.

The stewards' document read: "The protest was lodged against the accuracy of the Provisional Classification. The Stewards first considered if the protest was admissible. The Stewards determined that as it was lodged on time and complied with the requirements of Chapter 13 of the FIA International Sporting Code, it was an admissible protest.

"An examination of the list of deleted lap times provided to the Stewards by Race Control, revealed that a number of track limit infringements had not previously been referred to the Stewards for potential penalty. It was determined that some of these infringements warranted a penalty that was not previously applied when the Provisional Classification was published.

"These penalties will be reflected in the Final Classification. Accordingly, the Protest is upheld and the Protest Fee is returned to the Competitor."

Daniel Moxon