Abu Dhabi GP3: ART's Hubert handed five-second penalty in race one

Hubert had five seconds added to his time and as a result also loses his significantly better starting spot compared to team-mate Nirei Fukuzumi, who he can still mathematically beat to third spot in the drivers' standings.

Hubert finished eighth in the first race - won by Arden International's outgoing Red Bull junior Niko Kari - and was set to start the second from first place in front of Dorian Boccolacci and Steijn Schothorst.

But following a post-race investigation into virtual safety car infringements during the 18-lap race, the stewards determined that he had failed to observe the 80km/h speed limit required during the neutralisation period.

"Car data determined that Hubert went back onto the throttle before using the speed limiter, in violation of the sporting regulations," read a GP3 statement.

Hubert drops to 11th in the race one standings as a result.

Trident's Ryan Tveter will now start race two from pole, and his team-mate Kevin Jorg and DAMS driver Bruno Baptista take the two and one points on offer for eighth and ninth in race one respectively.

Hubert's penalty means he will now start race two from 11th - four places ahead of Fukuzumi, who finished 15th and out of the points in race one after getting stuck on the grid when the lights went out and then lost his front wing in a collision with Giuliano Alesi.

While Mercedes Formula 1 junior driver George Russell has already wrapped up the 2017 GP3 title, Fukuzumi is also fighting Renault academy member Jack Aitken, who finished 14th in race one, for second in the standings, as well as defending from Hubert.

The three ART drivers go into tomorrow's finale separated by 23 points - Aitken on 140, Fukuzumi on 134 and Hubert on 117 - with a maximum of 17 points on offer.