Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

WRC Estonia: Unbeatable Pajari leads after perfect Friday

WRC
Rally Estonia
WRC Estonia: Unbeatable Pajari leads after perfect Friday

"Not getting ahead of ourselves" - Why Norris was downbeat in Belgium despite F1 practice pace

Formula 1
Belgian GP
"Not getting ahead of ourselves" - Why Norris was downbeat in Belgium despite F1 practice pace

Alpine explains Gasly's crash that red-flagged FP2

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Alpine explains Gasly's crash that red-flagged FP2

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 F1 Belgian GP

Feature
Formula 1
Belgian GP
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 F1 Belgian GP

Red Bull expects to run its ‘Macarena’ wing again at next F1 race

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Red Bull expects to run its ‘Macarena’ wing again at next F1 race

How Racing Bulls let a driver battle decide who got its F1 car cooling upgrade for Belgian GP

Formula 1
Belgian GP
How Racing Bulls let a driver battle decide who got its F1 car cooling upgrade for Belgian GP

F1 Belgian GP: Antonelli headlines FP2 over Norris, Gasly crash causes red flag

Formula 1
Belgian GP
F1 Belgian GP: Antonelli headlines FP2 over Norris, Gasly crash causes red flag

LIVE: F1 Belgian GP commentary and updates - Antonelli tops FP2 as Gasly suffers heavy crash

Formula 1
Belgian GP
LIVE: F1 Belgian GP commentary and updates - Antonelli tops FP2 as Gasly suffers heavy crash

Leclerc, Perez, Hulkenberg escape Monaco GP weight check penalties

Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg have all escaped further action after missing weight checks during qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix

In all three cases their respective teams did not work on the cars - which were quickly returned to the FIA weighbridge - so no driver was at risk of being subjected to the maximum penalty of exclusion from qualifying.

In Azerbaijan, Pierre Gasly had to start from the pitlane because after missing the red light his Red Bull team changed his tyres, which counts as working on the car.

The FIA accepted that the convoluted pit entry in Monaco made it hard for drivers to see if they were being required to stop, and given the "exceptional circumstances," no further penalties were applied.

All three drivers were handed an identical decision which noted: "The Stewards reviewed video evidence both from the on-board cameras and the external CCTV.

"The driver failed to stop at the weighbridge, however the driver stopped almost immediately afterwards and the Stewards confirmed that no work was done on the car.

"While the driver failed to stop, the Stewards saw from the on-board video that when the driver turned into pit lane the weigh-bridge boards were green, indicating that the driver could proceed without stopping.

"It was not until the driver was probably looking down pit lane that the boards changed to indicate the drivers number.

"This was due to the exceptional layout of the pit entry at this circuit and how late it is clear that the cars have committed to pit lane.

"The Stewards therefore accept that under the exceptional circumstances and as no sporting advantage was gained, no further action is warranted."

Hulkenberg said that it was difficult to see the weighbridge light while coming into the pits.

"As I came into the pitlane, you see the light quite late," he said when asked by Autosport.

"I looked, it was green, and then I focused back on the pitlane. And then they switched just after.

"In all honesty I think they're a bit late on the switch there.

"Here it's very dynamic, you turn right, you turn left, so you have to kind of look where you're going.

"You just focus with your eyes - as soon as I could see the board I checked, it was green, I looked away.

"But one second after I checked they must have turned it. I didn't even make it to my box, I stopped there and they pushed me back."


Previous article Gasly and Giovinazzi get Monaco Grand Prix grid drops for impeding
Next article Ferrari explains error behind Leclerc Monaco qualifying elimination

Top Comments

Latest news