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Defence Car 63 Failure To Respect Double Yellow Flags

Time 18:04 2020 BRITISH GRAND PRIX 30 July - 2 August 2020 · 2020 · 1 August 2020 · Doc 39

From The Stewards

To The Team Manager,

Williams Racing

Document 39 Date 01 August 2020

Time 18:12 2020 BRITISH GRAND PRIX 30 July - 2 August 2020 The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, summoned (document 29) and heard from the driver and team representative, have considered the following matter and determine the following:

No / Driver 63 - George Russell Competitor Williams Racing Time 14:17 Session Qualifying Fact Failure to respect double yellow flags at turn 7. Offence Breach of Appendix H, Art. 2.5.5.1.b) and non-compliance with Race Director's Event Notes 7.1 Decision Five (5) grid place penalty (3 penalty points imposed, total of 3 points in the 12 month period) Reason The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 63 (George Russell), the team representative and have reviewed video, radio, telemetry and marshalling system evidence. The driver, Russell, explained to the Stewards that he only saw the double yellow flag signal at Turn 7 in his peripheral vision and believed it was just a single yellow. He lifted slightly earlier than he had on his previous lap, but his speed was not "significantly" slower than previous laps, although he explained that he was in full control of the car and felt that he would have been able to take avoiding action if needed; and further that he was at a similar speed because he was on a faster lap overall. The Stewards reviewed the team radio and noted that the team warned him that a yellow was ahead. They did not specify that it was a double yellow flag. Further, they did not advise him that he needed to abort the lap, following the Race Director's notes in this regard that he should not be able to set a meaningful lap time. This was, in fact, his fastest lap of Q1. The purpose of the Race Director's note is to emphasise the extreme importance of the necessity to follow the flag signals for safety reasons. While the Stewards explored all possible mitigating factors, they ultimately determined that it was the responsibility of the driver to see and follow the double yellow flag signal correctly in a potentially very dangerous situation. The team could certainly have helped more in this regard. But ultimately, he could not set a meaningful lap time in this circumstance, and therefore order a Five Grid Place Penalty and three penalty points.

The Stewards Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Article 10.1.1 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time

limits. Tim Mayer Paolo Longoni

Emanuele Pirro Steve Stringwell

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